Silchar: The first election to the 42-member Silchar Municipal Corporation (SMC) will be held on Oct 3, nearly four years after the erstwhile municipal board was notified as a corporation, Assam State Election Commission said on Wednesday. Counting will take place on Oct 6.Assam govt had issued the notification constituting the 42-ward corporation on Nov 28, 2022, while the upgraded civic body formally began functioning on June 30, 2025. The election, therefore, comes after a prolonged delay that had left the city without elected civic representatives for several years. Gauhati High Court had in July directed the authorities to complete the election process within two months.The civic battle is expected to be fought primarily between the ruling BJP-AGP alliance and Congress. For the BJP-led coalition, the election will be a test of its organisational strength and record on civic development, while Congress is likely to make the delay in holding the polls and persistent problems related to roads, drainage, drinking water and waste disposal its main campaign issues.Polling will be conducted from 7.30am to 4pm. If repolling is required at any booth, it will be held on Oct 5 during the same hours. Counting will begin at 8am on Oct 6 and continue until completion.According to the schedule, candidates can file nominations until Sept 11. Scrutiny will take place on Sept 14, followed by publication of the list of validly nominated candidates. The last date for withdrawal is Sept 17, when the final list of contestants will also be released.The corporation has 2,70,772 registered voters — 1,29,877 men, 1,40,884 women and 11 third-gender electors. Voting will take place at 316 polling stations.Four wards — 5, 12, 18 and 19 — have been reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, while wards 3, 4 and 10 are reserved for Scheduled Caste women. Another 18 wards have been reserved for women, leaving 17 open seats.The maximum election expenditure for each candidate has been fixed at Rs 3 lakh. Recognised national parties can appoint up to 20 star campaigners, while recognised state parties can name 10.The electoral rolls published on July 15 will be used for the polls. Election Photo Identity Card will be the principal identification document, though Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, PAN card, MGNREGA job card and other documents approved by the commission will also be accepted.The model code of conduct came into force across SMC area immediately after the announcement. Loudspeakers, whether stationary or mounted on vehicles, cannot be used between 10pm and 6am.The campaign silence period will begin at 4.30pm on Oct 1 and end at 4.30pm on polling day.
