BJP Government Not Conducting Silchar Corporation Elections Because They Are Scared to Lose: Congress

The Cachar District Congress Committee on Monday (October 27) launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Assam government, alleging that the ruling party is deliberately delaying the Silchar Municipal Corporation elections out of fear of losing. Addressing a press conference at Indira Bhawan, Congress leaders highlighted a series of civic failures and accused the government of corruption and mismanagement in Cachar district.

Partha Ranjan Chakrabarty, Chairman of the Congress Media Department (Cachar), questioned why the state government conducted the Bodoland Territorial Council elections but continues to postpone Silchar’s municipal polls, 11 years after the last election was held. “The notification for Silchar Corporation was released earlier this year, yet the election hasn’t been held. What are they afraid of?” he asked.

Criticising the city’s poor drainage and water supply, Chakrabarty said, “Every year we hear drainage improvement claims, but one shower is enough to drown Silchar. The government that can’t provide drinking water has no moral right to stay in power.” He also alleged that the state government’s Orunodoi scheme and Lakhpati Baideo were being used for election publicity, claiming that not all beneficiaries received the promised Rs. 10,000.

On the reduction of assembly seats in Barak from 15 to 13 after delimitation, the Congress leader said it would reduce Barak Valley’s representation in the Assembly. He further slammed the government for the incomplete flyover plan and the “imaginary” high-speed corridor, adding, “They can’t fix 31 km of Mahasadak for over a decade now, which barely needs 13 baskets of soil, but dream of a high-speed corridor!”

Media convenor Papon Deb alleged large-scale corruption and syndicate operations across Cachar, involving areca nut, limestone, and coal. He said that crores of rupees of government taxes are being evaded with support from the syndicate. “Using Mizoram, Manipur and then Lakhipur, things are getting out of the district without having to pay taxes. We have heard from people who are victims of this syndicate that supari (areca) traders have to pay up to Rs. 80,000 per truck to these syndicates if their truck has to cross the borders of Cachar. If the administration doesn’t act within seven days, we’ll guard the three district border checkpoints, including the Manipur and Mizoram border point and Digorkhal gate ourselves,” he warned.

District Congress President Sajal Acharjee accused the Silchar Municipal Board officials of neglecting civic duties. “We pay municipal taxes but get no service. Officers remain absent, and citizens suffer,” he said. Acharjee also alleged that the MLA facilitated encroachment of the Subhashnagar field near Rangirkhal, where a contractor built a godown on public land. He also said that the building of the guard wall began four years ago, and shops were demolished for that, and four years later, only 4 KM of the guard wall could be built.

Taking a jibe at the BJP’s “Justice for Zubeen Garg” campaign, Acharjee remarked, “It’s hilarious that those in power are holding rallies demanding justice from their own government.”

The Congress leaders concluded by demanding immediate municipal elections, improved civic infrastructure, and an end to syndicate raj in Cachar.