Dampa by-election in Mizoram records 83% turnout, polling ends peacefully

Aizawl: A total of 83 per cent turnout was recorded in the by-election to the Dampa assembly seat in north-western Mizoram's Mamit district as polling ended peacefully at 4 pm on Tuesday, a senior election official said.

Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer Dr. Lalrozama said that polling, which began at 7 am across 41 polling stations, including three critical polling stations, was peaceful, with no law and order issues reported during the nine-hour voting.

He added that there were no reports of malfunctioning EVMs or technical glitches with VVPAT machines.

A total of 20,888 voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in the bypoll, according to the CEO. Officials will count the votes on November 14.

Dampa is one of the three assembly segments in Mamit, the lone aspirational district in the state, which shares an international border with Bangladesh and an inter-state boundary with Tripura.

The Dampa seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21. The assembly segment has a mixture of Mizo and minority populations, including the Chakmas and the Brus.

The bypoll witnessed a five-cornered contest. The ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) fielded well-known Mizo singer and preacher Vanlalsailova; the main opposition MNF nominated its senior vice president and former health minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana; and the Congress party fielded its vice president and former transport minister John Rotluangliana.

The BJP nominated Lalhmingthanga, while the People's Conference (PC) party, founded by former Chief Minister Brig. T Sailo fielded its vice president, K. Zahmingthanga.

Vanlalsailova, Lalthangliana, and Lalhmingthanga had unsuccessfully contested the last assembly polls held in November 2023.

The Dampa bypoll will play a crucial role in shaping the state's political landscape ahead of the next assembly polls in 2028.

It is also a litmus test for the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) ahead of the Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) polls scheduled for December 3 and the upcoming elections to the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) later this year.

Winning the bypoll will boost the party’s morale despite heavy criticism from opposition parties.

The bypoll carries significant weight for the MNF as well, as losing would reduce the party's strength in the state assembly and prevent it from claiming the post of Leader of Opposition. In the 40-member Mizoram assembly, the single largest opposition party requires at least 10 members to hold the post, and the MNF now has nine members following Sailo's death.

For the BJP, which is striving to make inroads in Mizoram, winning the bypoll would enhance the party’s foothold in the Christian-majority state. The BJP currently has two members in the state assembly.