Guwahati: In the maiden election for the Silchar Municipal Corporation, the National Democratic Alliance, led by the BJP, swept a commanding majority by clinching 34 out of 42 seats. The BJP alone won 32 wards, its ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) added two, while the Congress was left with only two seats and independents took six.

Ballot‑paper voting replaces machines

The October 3 poll was conducted on paper ballots rather than electronic voting machines (EVMs). Voting took place in 40 wards; two BJP candidates were elected unopposed. Counting began on Tuesday and the results were declared shortly thereafter.

BJP’s landslide in numbers

Out of a total of 133 contestants, the BJP contested 38 wards and emerged victorious in 32 of them. AGP secured two seats, and the Congress, despite fielding candidates in 38 wards, managed only two wins. Six independents also crossed the finish line.

The alliance has formally requested recounts in two constituencies – one where an independent candidate won and another where the Congress prevailed – but the election commission has yet to rule on the petitions.

Himanta Sarma’s swipe at the opposition

Following the declaration, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to social media to criticize the Congress, pointing out that the party failed to win any seats even when the vote was cast on paper, not machines. He framed the outcome as a clear endorsement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and the BJP’s development narrative.

State BJP chief joins the chorus

Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia echoed the chief minister’s remarks, emphasizing that the paper‑ballot results undercut the Congress’s long‑standing allegations of EVM tampering. Party workers celebrated at the BJP headquarters in Guwahati, hailing the win as a boost to the party’s urban foothold in the Barak Valley.

Local issues drove the campaign

Beyond the political fireworks, voters were primarily concerned with everyday civic problems: deteriorating roads, poor drainage, chronic water‑logging, erratic power supply and inadequate drinking‑water provision. The municipal body, upgraded to a 42‑ward corporation in 2022 and operational since June 2025, had previously functioned without elected representatives.

With the NDA now holding a clear mandate, the new corporation is expected to tackle these long‑standing grievances, while the result also serves as a barometer for upcoming state‑level contests.

"The ballot‑paper outcome shows that development, not machinery, wins the people's confidence," said Sarma after the results.