Guwahati, Sep 15 — Assam Congress President and Lok Sabha MP Gaurav Gogoi on Tuesday expressed confidence that the party would emerge victorious in the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha bye-election, while alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been making a secret pact with Badruddin Ajmal-led all India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) out of panic of a probable win of the Congress in the vacant Lok Sabha seat.
Speaking to reporters here, Gogoi said the Congress was preparing for an aggressive campaign and remained confident of defeating its rivals in the October 6 bypoll.
"We are very confident of putting up a solid campaign, and we are confident of a victory in the forthcoming Nagaon bye-election," he added.
Gogoi's remarks came amid indications that the AIUDF may field its President Badruddin Ajmal from Nagaon, potentially adding another significant player to what is already shaping up to be a closely fought political contest.
The Congress leader claimed that the AIUDF had reconsidered its earlier candidate strategy after the Congress announced its nominee.
According to Gogoi, the development reflected the strength of the Congress' position in the Lok Sabha constituency.
"Earlier, the AIUDF was thinking about another candidate, but after the Congress party announced its official candidate, the AIUDF have done a rethink," he said.
Gogoi also targeted the BJP, alleging that the ruling party in Assam had become concerned after the Congress fielded a strong candidate.
He claimed that a possible Badruddin Ajmal's candidature would ultimately work in favour of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
"The BJP has panicked and understood that the Congress has put forward a strong candidate," Gogoi said, alleging that the BJP had turned to its "trusted political ally" AIUDF to strengthen its position.
The bypoll has consequently emerged as an important political test for both major parties ahead of the 2029 general election.
The BJP has fielded former IAS officer and former Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Devasish Sharma, while the Congress has nominated former Batadroba MLA Sibamoni Bora.
The political contest assumes additional significance because the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat was won by Congress in the 2019 and 2024 general elections.
The seat fell vacant after Pradyut Bordoloi resigned as MP and subsequently joined the BJP ending his long association with the Congress just before this year's Assembly polls in the state.
Bordoloi also contested successfully on a BJP ticket from Dispur Assembly constituency and he became an MLA.
For the BJP, winning Nagaon would represent more than a Parliamentary bypoll victory. It could strengthen the party's claim that its organisational and electoral influence is expanding into areas traditionally dominated by the Congress.
For the Congress, retaining the seat would provide a crucial counter-narrative and demonstrate that its traditional support base in central Assam remains intact.
With both parties treating Nagaon as a political bellwether, the October 6 verdict is likely to be closely watched as an early indicator of Assam's electoral mood.