BJP wins on EVMs and ballot papers: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma hits back at Congress
Synopsis
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma turned the Congress's own EVM argument against it — pointing to BJP wins in ballot-paper polls, including Silchar municipality and country-wide MLC elections where Congress reportedly won just one seat. With Nagaon municipal polls next month, also to be held on paper ballots, Sarma is clearly setting up another electoral challenge for the opposition.
Key Takeaways
Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on 29 October 2026 defended EVMs by citing BJP victories in both EVM-based and ballot-paper elections.
The Nagaon Lok Sabha election (EVM) and the Silchar Municipality polls (ballot paper) both returned BJP wins, according to Sarma.
Sarma claimed the Congress won only one seat in nationwide MLC elections conducted through ballot papers.
The Nagaon municipal elections , due next month, will also be held via ballot papers — a contest Sarma said the BJP is confident of winning.
The remarks come amid a continuing national debate over the credibility of EVMs, with opposition parties pushing for a return to paper ballots.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, 29 October 2026, mounted a sharp defence of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in Guwahati, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has consistently won elections regardless of whether they were conducted through EVMs or traditional ballot papers. The remarks were directed squarely at opposition parties, particularly the Indian National Congress, which has repeatedly questioned the integrity of EVM-based polls.
The Evidence Sarma Cited
The Chief Minister pointed to two recent electoral outcomes to make his case. The Nagaon Lok Sabha election, conducted entirely through EVMs, delivered a victory for the BJP, he noted. Separately, the Silchar Municipality polls — held just days earlier through ballot papers — also returned a BJP win. 'Whether it is a ballot paper or an EVM, the BJP is winning. The entire Nagaon election was conducted through EVMs, and the BJP won there. Two days ago, an election was held in Silchar through ballot papers, and we won there too,' Sarma said.
MLC Elections Used as Further Counter
Sarma widened his argument by referencing recent Members of Legislative Council (MLC) elections held across the country, all of which were conducted using ballot papers. He claimed the Congress managed to win only a single seat across those contests. 'The MLC elections were held across the country, and Congress managed to win only one. This time, all the elections were conducted through ballot papers,' the Chief Minister said, using the results to argue that opposition losses are a reflection of voter preference rather than any flaw in the voting mechanism.
Eye on Nagaon Municipal Polls
Looking ahead, Sarma expressed confidence that the BJP would continue its winning streak in the upcoming Nagaon municipal elections, which are slated for next month and will be conducted through ballot papers. 'Municipal elections in Nagaon will be held next month, and those elections will also be conducted through ballot papers. We will win there as well. We are winning through ballot papers and EVMs alike,' he added.
The Broader EVM Debate
Sarma's remarks come against the backdrop of an enduring political controversy over EVM credibility in India. Opposition parties, led by the Congress, have repeatedly called for a return to paper ballots, alleging that EVMs are susceptible to manipulation — allegations the Election Commission of India and the BJP have consistently denied. Notably, the BJP's counterpoint has evolved: rather than solely defending EVM technology, party leaders are now pointing to ballot-paper victories as proof that their electoral support is organic and systemic. The Assam municipal polls next month are widely seen as a fresh litmus test for the BJP's ground strength in the state.
Point of View
He neutralises the opposition's primary line of attack without having to argue EVM technology alone. But the Congress's concern has never simply been about which format delivers more losses — it is about verifiability and transparency. Pointing to electoral outcomes as proof of machine integrity conflates popularity with process credibility, a logical gap the opposition will keep exploiting. The real test is whether the Nagaon municipal result, when it comes, shifts the narrative or simply restarts the same argument on a new dataset.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma say about EVMs and ballot papers?
Sarma asserted on 29 October 2026 that the BJP has won elections conducted through both EVMs and ballot papers, citing the Nagaon Lok Sabha win (EVM) and the Silchar Municipality win (ballot paper) as evidence. He used these results to dismiss opposition allegations questioning the credibility of EVMs.
What are the Nagaon municipal elections and when are they scheduled?
The Nagaon municipal elections are local body polls in Assam scheduled for next month and will be conducted using ballot papers. Sarma said the BJP is confident of winning them, framing it as a further test of the party's support base.
Why has the Congress been raising concerns about EVMs?
The Indian National Congress and several other opposition parties have repeatedly alleged that EVMs are susceptible to tampering and have demanded a return to paper ballots to ensure electoral transparency. The Election Commission of India and the BJP have consistently denied these allegations.
What were the MLC election results Sarma referenced?
Sarma referred to recent Members of Legislative Council elections held across the country, all conducted through ballot papers, claiming the Congress won only one seat across those contests. He cited these results as further proof that the opposition's losses reflect voter preference, not voting-system manipulation.
How significant is the EVM debate in Indian politics?
The EVM credibility debate has been a recurring flashpoint in Indian electoral politics, with opposition parties using it to contest unfavourable results and the ruling BJP defending the machines as transparent and tamper-proof. The argument has intensified after major national and state elections, making it a structural feature of the political discourse rather than an isolated controversy.
