NAGAON: Counting of votes for the Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election in Assam began at 8 am on Friday, October 9, amid tight security. The bypoll recorded a voter turnout of 76.19 per cent on October 6, with the contest drawing attention to the electoral prospects of the BJP, Congress and the All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF).

The counting process began with postal ballots, followed by votes recorded in electronic voting machines (EVMs). Officials have made security arrangements at the counting centres to ensure that the process proceeds smoothly.

According to reports, counting is being conducted at two centres in Nagaon district: Dawson Higher Secondary School and Government Boys’ School. Each centre has 14 counting tables.

Three-way contest in Nagaon

The main contest is among BJP candidate Devasish Sharma, Congress nominee and former MLA Sibamoni Bora, and AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal. A total of 15 candidates were in the fray for the parliamentary seat.

Sharma, a former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, entered the electoral contest after leaving the civil service and joining the BJP. Bora is contesting on behalf of the Congress, while Ajmal is seeking to strengthen the AIUDF’s position in the constituency.

The result will determine who represents Nagaon in the Lok Sabha. However, the by-election is not expected to alter the balance of power in Parliament.

Why the by-election was held

The by-election became necessary after Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the Nagaon Lok Sabha seat and subsequently won the Assam Assembly election from Dispur on a BJP ticket earlier this year.

The vacancy led to a fresh electoral contest in the constituency, with political parties seeking support from voters across its assembly segments.

Nagaon is a politically significant constituency with a large electorate and diverse voting patterns. The outcome is expected to provide an indication of the support enjoyed by the three principal contenders in the region.

More than 19 lakh voters were eligible

A total of approximately 19.05 lakh electors were eligible to vote in the by-election. The electorate included around 9.43 lakh women and 50 third-gender voters.

Voting was conducted across 2,312 polling stations in the constituency on October 6. The final reported turnout stood at 76.19 per cent, indicating substantial participation in the bypoll.

The polling process was reported to have concluded peacefully. Minor EVM glitches were reported at some polling stations during voting, but the affected machines were replaced and polling continued, according to earlier reports.

Security arrangements at counting centres

Authorities have put security measures in place at both counting locations. Candidates and political parties have also been instructed to obtain permission from the district administration before organising processions.

The arrangements are intended to maintain order during counting and in the period following the declaration of the result.

As the counting progresses, the focus remains on the performance of the BJP, Congress and AIUDF candidates. The final outcome will establish the winner of the Nagaon parliamentary bypoll.

The result is also being watched as a measure of the political standing of the competing parties in the constituency following the recent changes in its representation.

The Nagaon bypoll result will be determined by the counting process underway on October 9.