Guwahati, October 6: Voters across the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency turned out in large numbers on Tuesday as polling for the high-profile by-election got under way under tight security arrangements. The contest, necessitated by the resignation of former Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi after he switched political allegiance, has evolved into a closely watched three-cornered fight between the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress and the All India United Democratic Front.
Polling began punctually at 7 a.m. and is scheduled to continue until 5 p.m. across more than 2,100 booths spread over eight Assembly segments. By 9 a.m., provisional figures showed a voter turnout of 17.68 per cent. The numbers rose steadily through the morning, reaching 37.82 per cent by 11 a.m. Laharighat recorded the highest segment-wise participation at approximately 42.5 per cent, while Nagaon-Batadraba lagged at around 30.5 per cent. Other segments such as Samaguri and Rupahihat also posted relatively strong figures, reflecting a mixed but largely enthusiastic response from the nearly 19-lakh strong electorate.
Election officials described the atmosphere as largely peaceful. Minor technical glitches involving electronic voting machines were reported at a handful of booths, including locations in Morigaon and Raha, but these were addressed promptly and did not disrupt the overall process. Security forces remained on high alert throughout the constituency, with particular attention paid to sensitive booths.
The BJP has fielded Debashish Sharma, a former Indian Administrative Service officer, as its candidate. The Congress is banking on Sibamoni Bora, while AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal is personally contesting the seat, turning the bypoll into a direct test of the party’s organisational strength in the region. Political observers note that the outcome could influence the broader electoral arithmetic in Assam ahead of future contests, given Nagaon’s diverse demographic mix of tea-garden communities, minority populations and indigenous voters.
Party workers from all three sides were visible near polling stations from early morning, distributing leaflets and encouraging supporters to cast their votes. Senior leaders of the ruling alliance and the opposition camps made appeals for a high turnout, emphasising that every ballot would count in what many described as a prestige battle.
District administrations in Nagaon, Morigaon and adjoining areas had made elaborate arrangements, including the deployment of additional personnel, the setting up of model booths and women-managed polling stations, and the provision of facilities for elderly and differently-abled voters. Webcasting was activated at several locations to ensure transparency.
Counting of votes will take place on October 9. Until then, the focus remains on ensuring a free, fair and incident-free polling day. As the afternoon progressed, queues continued to form at many booths, suggesting that the final turnout figure could climb further before the close of voting.