BJP names former IAS officer Devashish Sharma for Nagaon bypoll

The Bharatiya Janata Party has named former Indian Administrative Service officer Devashish Sharma as its candidate for the Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll in Assam, a move that has drawn criticism from the Congress party over the timing of his transition from a senior administrative role to electoral politics. Sharma took voluntary retirement from the IAS on September 3 while serving as the District Commissioner of Nagaon. He formally joined the BJP on September 8 and was announced as the party's candidate on September 11. The bypoll is scheduled for October 6, with counting on October 9. The Nagaon Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after three-term Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi resigned from the party ahead of the 2026 Assam Assembly elections, joined the BJP, and won the Dispur constituency. The constituency, which includes assembly segments such as Jagiroad, Morigaon, Raha, Samaguri, Dhing, Lahorighat, and Rupahihat, has a significant minority population and has been held by the Congress for the past decade. Congress leaders have raised concerns about Sharma's recent role as District Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer.