Silchar, Sept 18: In a significant development ahead of the first Silchar Municipal Corporation elections, the BJP secured two seats unopposed after Congress candidates and other contestants withdrew their nominations on Thursday. In Ward 20, Congress candidate Rupali Das withdrew from the contest, resulting in the unopposed election of BJP nominee Bhakti Sen Talukdar.

She consequently became one of the first councillors elected to the newly constituted municipal corporation. A similar situation emerged in Ward 9.

Although Congress candidate Amalendu Dey withdrew his nomination, BJP nominee Bijendra Prasad Singh was initially expected to face SUCI candidate Apan Lal Das. However, Das also withdrew from the contest at the last moment, leaving no candidate in the fray against the BJP nominee.

Bijendra Prasad Singh was subsequently declared elected unopposed. The development handed the BJP an early advantage even before formal polling commenced for the historic civic election.

The Congress suffered another setback when its Ward 12 candidate, Mousumi Das, withdrew her nomination. The seat, however, will witness a contest as an Independent candidate remains in the fray.

Several Independent candidates, including some BJP dissidents who had filed nominations after being denied party tickets, also withdrew from the electoral race on the final day. However, BJP dissidents Rathindra Saha, Saheli Deb and Sanghita Chakraborty remained in the contest from their respective wards, leaving the party to face rebel challenges in those seats.

Interestingly, Rathindra Saha, popularly known as Madhab Saha, had restricted the entry of BJP leaders in his house with a poster outside his residence. The withdrawals have altered the political equations in several wards as Silchar prepares for its first election following its elevation to a municipal corporation, voting for which is scheduled on October 3.

Counting will be held on October 6.