Congress Amplifies Campaign for Nagaon Lok Sabha Bypoll

The Congress party is intensifying its campaign for the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, focusing on BJP candidate Devasish Sharma's controversial past as a district commissioner. Senior leader Salman Khurshid raised concerns about Sharma's decisions that led to the expulsion of residents, questioning the legality of these actions. The party is also contrasting Sharma with their own candidate, Sibamoni Bora. Additionally, Khurshid highlighted the growing unity within the opposition INDIA bloc as they prepare for future elections. The campaign began with tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, emphasizing the party's commitment to its values.

By Narendra Chaudhary Oct 2, 2026, 17:20 IST

Intensified Campaigning in Nagaon

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Salman Khurshid (second from left) addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Friday (Photo: AT)

Guwahati, Oct 2: The Congress party has ramped up its election efforts for the forthcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, specifically targeting BJP candidate Devasish Sharma regarding his past administrative actions as district commissioner.

During a press conference held in Guwahati, Salman Khurshid, a senior Congress figure and former Union Minister, raised concerns about Sharma's involvement in the expulsion of residents from the district. He expressed apprehension over Sharma's shift from a bureaucratic role to a political one.

“It is quite unusual that the BJP candidate for the Nagaon bypoll was recently a district commissioner. We are troubled by some of his decisions that led to the expulsion of Indian citizens for his political gain. Currently, two women remain unaccounted for,” Khurshid stated.

“The courts are inquiring about their whereabouts and the legality of the expulsions, including whether proper notices were issued. The individual responsible for these actions is now presenting himself as a candidate. This situation is deeply concerning,” he added.

Khurshid further contrasted Sharma with Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora, a former MLA, emphasizing the significant differences between them.

Sharma, who resigned from his position as Nagaon DC on September 3, joined the BJP shortly thereafter and was announced as the party's candidate for the bypoll scheduled for October 6.

His candidacy has faced backlash from Congress, which has called for an examination of his decisions made during his tenure as DC and District Election Officer.

On the broader opposition front, Khurshid noted that the INDIA alliance is uniting effectively following a recent meeting in New Delhi.

“The INDIA bloc convened two days ago, and there has been a significant sense of unity,” he remarked, countering previous notions that alliance members were not aligned.

“The recent gathering was noteworthy,” Khurshid said, highlighting the participation of various opposition parties.

He mentioned that the leaders of the bloc are now concentrating on how they can support the alliance in preparation for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, rather than focusing on personal gains.

“If everyone contributes earnestly, the narrative for 2029 will be entirely different,” he concluded.

Earlier in the day, Congress leaders commenced their campaign in Nagaon by honoring Mahatma Gandhi at his statue near Nagaon Shaheed Bhawan on Gandhi Jayanti, prior to rallying support for Sibamoni Bora.

In Guwahati, Khurshid, along with former MP Bolin Kuli and other senior Congress members, paid respects to Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri at Rajiv Bhawan, commemorating their birth anniversaries.