Devasish Sharma will win Nagaon bypoll by huge margin: Assam minister

Assam Health Minister Ashok Singhal on Tuesday, September 15, said BJP candidate Devasish Sharma would win the upcoming Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election by a “huge margin”, while launching a sharp attack on the Congress.

Speaking in Kaliabor, Singhal said the Congress was a “divided empire” and claimed that the party lacked effective leadership in Assam.

“There is no one to lead the Congress. The person who has been given the responsibility stays in Delhi. Under his leadership, the Congress will be wiped out in Assam,” he said.

Singhal also claimed that the by-election would effectively be a contest between the BJP and the AIUDF rather than the Congress.

“Why talk about the Congress? This time, the contest in the by-election will not be against the Congress but against the AIUDF,” he said.

Taking a swipe at the Congress over its criticism of Sharma, Singhal challenged the party to produce documentary evidence if it had any allegations against the BJP candidate.

“If the Congress has any allegations against Devasish Sharma, let them produce documentary evidence,” he said.

Singhal also defended Sharma's record as Nagaon Deputy Commissioner, saying the work he had done in the district had contributed to the positive response following his selection as the BJP candidate.

Responding to criticism that Sharma was a “parachute landing” candidate, Singhal said, “The parachute is old now; call it a drone landing instead — that would sound better.”

The Nagaon Lok Sabha by-election will be held on October 6, with counting scheduled for October 9.