Poll Heat in Silchar! 200+ Congress Workers Switch to AGP Ahead of October 3 Civic Polls

Over 200 Congress leaders and workers from Wards 23 and 24 joined the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) at a programme held in Madhurbond, Silchar, on Saturday night, days before the first Silchar Municipal Corporation election.

The joining programme was attended by AGP leaders, including Sunil Deka and Apurba Bhattacharjee, along with other district-level leaders. Among those who joined AGP was former Bhagadhar-Barjurai GP president Nazmul Islam Laskar, besides several Congress office-bearers and workers.

Addressing the media, AGP leader Sunil Deka said that Wards 23 and 24 had become “Congress-mukt” following the joining of the Congress leaders and workers into the AGP. He said the newly joined members would now work with the AGP ahead of the civic polls.

The first Silchar Municipal Corporation election is scheduled for October 3 across 42 wards. The BJP-AGP alliance is contesting all 42 wards, with the BJP fielding candidates in 38 wards and the AGP in four. Two BJP candidates have already been elected unopposed, meaning polling will take place in the remaining 40 wards.

Speaking about the election, Deka said the BJP is the alliance’s main partner and has fielded candidates in 38 wards, while the four remaining wards have been allotted to the AGP. He also referred to the two BJP candidates who have already been elected unopposed.

Deka said the alliance hopes voters will focus on civic issues such as drainage, flooding and drinking water while choosing their representatives. He said the alliance expects to win and work towards addressing the city’s civic problems.

On allegations by the Opposition regarding allegedly unqualified candidates and fake educational certificates, Deka said such allegations were political claims. He argued that if the certificates were actually fake, the candidates would have been caught during the scrutiny process.

They also appealed to voters to support BJP candidates, saying the development seen in Assam and the Barak Valley under the BJP should be extended to Silchar through the new municipal corporation.

The October 3 election will mark Silchar’s first civic poll after the town was upgraded from a municipal board to a municipal corporation with 42 wards.