{
  "id": 12547326,
  "title": "Cong can't even win ballots: Himanta after poll win",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/cong-cant-even-win-ballots-himanta-after-poll-win",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-07T04:14:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Economic Times",
    "slug": "the-economic-times",
    "url": "https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/new-updates/congress-cant-win-even-on-ballot-papers-himanta-after-bjp-wins-32-wards-in-silchar-civic-body-polls-congress-gets-2-seats-by-narrow-margin-amid-vote-chori-campaign-independents-6/articleshow/134755306.cms"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Assam Chief Minister Hemanta Biswa Sarma criticized the Congress party, stating that they perform even worse in elections conducted on paper ballots. This remark came after the BJP-led NDA secured victory in the first Silchar Municipal Corporation election, which was held using ballot papers. The BJP won 32 out of the 42 seats, while the AGP secured two seats, and Congress won just two seats. Six independent candidates also won seats. The election took place on October 3 in 40 wards.\n\nBJP has requested a recount in two wards, Wards 29 and 30. In Ward 29, an independent candidate won, while Congress won Ward 30. Some contests were decided by narrow margins, with Congress candidate Sakshi Banik winning Ward 30 by 135 votes and Congress candidate Rajashree Goala defeating BJP's Debasmita Nath by 49 votes.\n\nAssam BJP president Dilip Saikia also used the ballot-paper election to his advantage, suggesting that the result showed the people's trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and his approach to urban governance under the Viksit Bharat initiative. He thanked the Silchar voters and said his government remained committed to the city's development.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}