SILCHAR | Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on October 6 took aim at the Congress after the BJP-led NDA secured a clear majority in the first Silchar Municipal Corporation election, saying the opposition party “loses even with ballot papers”.

Speaking in Guwahati, Sarma said the Congress’s electoral performance remained weak despite the civic polls being conducted through paper ballots. “The Congress loses even with ballot papers; in fact, the Congress loses by an even wider margin with ballot papers,” Sarma said.

The BJP-led NDA won 34 of the 42 seats in the Silchar Municipal Corporation election. The BJP secured 32 seats, while its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) won two. The Congress managed to win two seats, while Independent candidates secured six seats.

Polling for the civic body was held on October 3 using ballot papers, marking a departure from the electronic voting machines used in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. The BJP has sought recounting in two wards. Ward 29 was won by an Independent candidate, while the Congress emerged victorious in Ward 30.

The election marked the first elected civic body for Silchar since the town was upgraded to a municipal corporation in 2022. The results also gave the BJP-led alliance control of the newly constituted civic body, with the party now set to lead the municipal corporation’s administration.

 Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia on October 6 claimed that the BJP-led NDA had secured 34 of the 42 wards in the first Silchar Municipal Corporation election, saying the result reflected voters’ support for the BJP and the state government’s development agenda.

Speaking to media as the civic poll results emerged, Saikia said the final results were still being formally announced but maintained that the NDA had won 34 seats. “Out of 42 wards, Silchar Municipal Corporation has won 34 seats in the NDA,” Saikia said.

He claimed the election result showed a decline in the Congress’s influence in Silchar and said the party had been reduced to a limited presence in the civic body. Saikia also hit out at the Congress over its allegations against the BJP during the election campaign, saying the opposition party had been “trapped in its own trap”.

According to the Assam BJP chief, the mandate demonstrated voters’ faith in the BJP and the development agenda associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. “The people’s faith in Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma and the work he does on the issues of the people has won,” Saikia said.

He further said the people of Silchar had “blessed” the BJP through their electoral mandate. The first Silchar Municipal Corporation election was held on October 3 across 42 wards. Two BJP candidates had already been elected unopposed before polling, while counting for the remaining wards began on October 6.

The election marked the first civic poll since Silchar was upgraded to a municipal corporation in 2022.