Guwahati: In the first ever poll for the Silchar Municipal Corporation, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the BJP secured a sweeping majority, winning 34 out of 42 seats. The BJP alone captured 32 wards, while its regional partner Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) added two more. The Congress managed only two victories and independents took six.

The October 3 election was conducted with traditional ballot papers rather than electronic voting machines (EVMs). Voting took place across 40 wards; two BJP candidates were declared elected unopposed. Counting began on Tuesday and the results were released later that day.

BJP posts a resounding majority

With 34 seats secured, the NDA now commands a comfortable margin in Silchar’s newly formed civic body. The BJP contested 38 wards and emerged victorious in 32, while the AGP won two seats. The Congress also fielded candidates in 38 wards but could muster only two wins. Six independents rounded out the tally. In total, 133 candidates vied for the 42 positions.

The BJP has asked election officials to recount votes in two wards – one where an independent candidate edged ahead and another where the Congress secured a seat. A final decision on the recount petitions is still pending.

Chief Minister Himanta Sarma targets Congress

Following the announcement, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma seized the moment to criticize the Congress, pointing out that the party failed to win even when the poll was held on paper ballots rather than EVMs. He framed the outcome as a clear endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the BJP’s development agenda, describing the result as a “landmark victory” for the NDA in Silchar on social media.

Sarma’s remarks arrive amid a broader Congress campaign questioning the integrity of electronic voting, a narrative he dismissed by highlighting the ballot‑paper format of this election.

State BJP chief echoes the attack

Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia also praised the results and used the ballot‑paper process to counter Congress’s repeated allegations of EVM tampering. Party workers celebrated at the BJP headquarters in Guwahati, touting the win as a boost to the party’s urban foothold in the Barak Valley.

Local civic concerns drove the campaign

Beyond the political fireworks, voters were primarily concerned with everyday issues: deteriorating roads, clogged drainage, seasonal water‑logging, erratic power supply, and inadequate drinking‑water provision. Silchar’s municipal corporation was upgraded to a 42‑ward body in 2022 and became operational in June 2025 after years without an elected civic authority.

The NDA’s decisive mandate now places it in a position to address these long‑standing urban challenges, while also serving as a bellwether for upcoming electoral battles across Assam.