Mizoram: Dampa by-election concludes campaigning, polling on Tuesday

Aizawl: Hectic campaigning for the by-election to the Dampa assembly seat in north-western Mizoram's Mamit district ended on Sunday without any law and order issue, election officials said.

Polling for the Dampa seat will be held on Tuesday, where 21,003 voters are eligible to cast their votes to decide the fate of five candidates, they said.

Counting of votes will be held on November 14, they said.

Polling officials assigned to six far-flung locations left for their respective stations on Sunday, Mamit election officer Lalnunfela Chawngthu said.

Additionally, three sections of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), deployed at critical polling stations in Silsury near the Bangladesh border, left for their posts on Sunday, he said. Polling officials for the remaining 35 stations will depart for their locations on Monday, he added.

Meanwhile, political parties were busy making a final pitch to woo voters on Sunday. Although the deadline for campaigns ended on Sunday, political parties held functions to mark the closure of campaigning at different villages on Saturday.

Addressing a campaign closing function at Reiek village on Saturday, main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga hit out at the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), suggesting that the party may not complete its full term.

He said that ZPM will be wiped out from state politics in the next assembly elections scheduled in 2028.

"People now understand the nature of ZPM's rule. The party may not last till the completion of its current term. It will be eliminated in the next assembly polls," Zoramthanga said.

Expressing confidence that the MNF will return to power in the next assembly polls, the MNF chief said all the mistakes and errors committed by the ZPM government will be amended and reformed when the MNF returns to power.

Meanwhile, Health minister and ZPM leader Lalhlimpuii claimed that the ZPM planned its policies carefully before it assumed power in 2023, and the party has hardly made any error in implementing such policies.

Addressing a closing function of a street campaign at West-Phaileng village on Saturday, Lalhlimpuii said 39 primary health centres (PHC) did not have doctors and about 80 villages were without health workers before the ZPM came to power.

The present government has deployed doctors and health workers in these PHCs and villages, and the Mizoram Universal Healthcare Scheme (MUHCS) has greatly benefited the people, she said.

Five candidates are in the fray for the Dampa bypoll, which was necessitated by the death of incumbent Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.

The ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) has fielded Mizo singer and preacher Vanlalsailova, main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) nominated party senior vice president and former health minister R. Lalthangliana, and Congress fielded party vice president and former transport minister John Rotluangliana.

The BJP nominated Lalhmingthanga, while former chief minister Brig. T. Sailo's party (People's Conference) fielded its vice president K. Zahmingthanga.