Guwahati: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has established an early lead in 30 of the 40 wards where polling was held in the first round of counting for the inaugural Silchar Municipal Corporation election on Tuesday.
According to the initial trends, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) is leading in three wards, while the Congress is ahead in four wards. Independent candidates are leading in the remaining three wards.
Counting of votes began at 8 am at the Ramnagar ISBT campus in Silchar, with elaborate security arrangements in place at the counting centre.
The counting exercise is being conducted across seven halls, each equipped with 14 counting tables. Officials expect the entire process to be completed in a maximum of four rounds.
Depending on the number of votes cast in individual wards, between three and four counting tables are being used for each ward. Wards with smaller electorates are expected to be completed within three rounds, while others may require four rounds.
The Silchar Municipal Corporation has 42 wards, but elections were held in only 40 as BJP candidates in two wards were elected unopposed.
Polling for the newly constituted civic body was held on October 3, marking the first municipal corporation election in Silchar. More than 2.7 lakh voters were eligible to cast their ballots, with the election recording a turnout of around 71 per cent.
The final results will determine the composition of the first elected council of the Silchar Municipal Corporation.
Security has been strengthened around the counting venue, with police personnel and civil administration officials deployed to maintain law and order. Additional measures have also been put in place to ensure the counting and declaration of results are conducted smoothly and without disruption.