Former IAS Officer Joins BJP as Candidate for Nagaon Bye-Poll After Voluntary Retirement

In a significant political development in Assam, former Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Devashish Sharma has been nominated as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) candidate for the upcoming bye-election in the Nagaon Lok Sabha constituency, scheduled for October 6. Sharma’s candidacy comes shortly after he took voluntary retirement from his position as deputy commissioner of Nagaon, a role he held until September 3.

Sharma, who is an IAS officer from the 2011 batch associated with the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, assumed the role of Nagaon’s deputy commissioner in June 2025. His previous experience includes serving as the deputy commissioner of the neighboring Morigaon district, which is part of the same Lok Sabha constituency. His transition from bureaucrat to politician marks an interesting shift in Assam’s political landscape, especially as he formally joined the BJP only a day before his nomination.

The Congress party has raised concerns regarding Sharma’s previous responsibilities while serving as the deputy commissioner and district election officer. They have requested that the Election Commission closely examine all electoral decisions made during his tenure. Congress MP Rakibul Hussain expressed apprehensions about Sharma’s handling of critical electoral duties, including the management of electronic voting machines, polling arrangements, and staff deployment, raising questions about the integrity of the upcoming election.

Nagaon, a constituency with a significant Muslim population, has been a stronghold of the Congress for the past decade. However, the political dynamics shifted earlier this year when the three-term Congress MP Pradyut Bordoloi defected to the BJP. Following his departure, Bordoloi contested the Assam Assembly elections and secured a victory from the Dispur constituency. This has led to an increased focus on the Nagaon bye-election, with both the BJP and Congress strategizing to reclaim or maintain their influence in the area.

The announcement of Sharma’s candidacy is anticipated to stir political debates in Assam, with various stakeholders keenly observing how the electorate responds. As the bye-poll date approaches, the political atmosphere in Nagaon is set to intensify, with traditional party loyalties potentially being tested amid changing allegiances.

Source: scroll.in