Gogoi calls Ajmal Sarma's '108' service, alleges secret BJP-AIUDF pact in Nagaon

Assam Congress president and Jorhat MP Gaurav Gogoi on Sunday alleged a "secret alliance" between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India United Democratic Front in the state, describing AIUDF chief Mohammed Badruddin Ajmal as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's "108".

The remark, made while addressing a party rally in Dhing in Nagaon district, refers to the toll-free Emergency Response Service used primarily for ambulances.

Campaigning for Congress candidate Sibamoni Bora ahead of the Nagaon parliamentary by-election on October 6, Mr. Gogoi said Mr. Ajmal was contesting the seat to benefit the BJP. He claimed the AIUDF had initially planned to field a different candidate, but its chief entered the fray himself after learning that the Congress had put up a strong contender in Ms. Bora.

Mr. Gogoi suggested that Mr. Ajmal's candidature formed part of a BJP strategy to counter the Congress in minority-dominated constituencies such as Nagaon.

The bypoll was necessitated after Pradyut Bordoloi, who won the constituency for a second time in 2024, left the Congress for the BJP. He subsequently contested and won the Dispur Assembly seat for the BJP in April 2026.

The contest is expected to be a three-cornered affair involving Ms. Bora, bureaucrat-turned-BJP politician Devasish Sharma and the AIUDF's Mr. Ajmal.

Also in the fray are Inamul Huda of the Revolutionary Communist Party of India (Rashik Bhatt), Barnali Sharma of the Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist), Hafiz Burhanuddin of the National Road Map Party of India, and nine independents.

The Assam Trinamool Congress had nominated academic Abdul Salam, but withdrew his candidature after the Election Commission of India froze the party's name and symbol.