The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is ramping up its efforts for the upcoming Silchar Municipal Corporation election, with Assam BJP president Dilip Saikia indicating that the list of candidates may be revealed by September 8 or 9.
During a three-day visit to Silchar, Saikia evaluated the party’s political and organizational readiness for the elections scheduled for October 3. He conducted meetings with election strategists, booth-level workers, organizational leaders, social media teams, and those aspiring for tickets.
A meeting of the party leadership is anticipated in Guwahati on Monday, where candidate selection and potential seat-sharing with NDA ally Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) will likely be discussed.
Saikia also engaged with the 19-member election management committee led by Cabinet minister Kaushik Rai during his visit.
“The party has implemented a multi-tiered approach to evaluate aspirants based on their public appeal, organizational history, and electoral viability,” he stated.
As part of this process, booth presidents and two designated officials at each booth have been instructed to rank their top three preferred candidates.
These recommendations will be collected in sealed boxes and evaluated alongside internal surveys and feedback from Shakti Kendras, mandals, and leaders at both district and state levels.
“Grassroots workers are in the best position to assess an aspirant’s public acceptance, organizational dedication, and winning potential. Thus, this consultation was aimed at ensuring that candidate selection is not solely dictated from the top,” Saikia explained.
Candidate selection is expected to be a complex task, with around 249 individuals vying for BJP nominations for the Corporation’s 42 wards.
In light of concerns that fierce competition might lead to rebel candidates, aspirants have been warned against running as Independents once the official list is published.
Party insiders noted that BJP members who defy official nominees and jeopardize their electoral chances could face a six-year suspension.
Aspirants wishing to withdraw their applications for the greater organizational good were given a deadline until Sunday afternoon.
Saikia mentioned that the party has already mobilized approximately 1,300 booth-level workers for voter outreach, with the campaign set to address Silchar’s persistent civic challenges.
A detailed master plan is also expected to be central to the BJP’s development agenda. There is speculation that Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma may also campaign in Silchar.
Saikia clarified that the BJP will not announce a mayoral candidate prior to the election, as the first Mayor of the Corporation will be elected indirectly by the chosen councillors.
The BJP aims to achieve a two-thirds majority and plans to campaign on the promise of a “triple-engine” administration, connecting a BJP-led Corporation with the party-governed administrations in Assam and at the national level.
The 42 wards of the Silchar Municipal Corporation span the Silchar, Udharbond, Borkhola, and Sonai Assembly constituencies. Voting is set for October 3, with results to be counted on October 6.