Mizoram: MNF wins Dampa by-election, R. Lalthangliana defeats ZPM, retains assembly seat

Aizawl: Mizoram's ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) on Friday suffered a defeat as the main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) won the by-election to the Dampa assembly seat in Mamit district, carrying on the legacy of its former member Lalrintluanga Sailo.

According to results announced by the Election Commission, MNF candidate R. Lalthangliana defeated his nearest rival, ZPM's nominee Vanlalsailova, by a margin of 562 votes.

Lalthangliana secured 6,981 votes, which is 40 per cent of the total 17,437 votes polled.

With 6,419 votes, Vanlalsailova bagged 36.8 per cent of the total vote share.

Congress nominee John Rotluangalian secured third place with 2,394 votes, while BJP candidate Lalhmingthanga clinched the fourth place, securing 1,541 votes. People's Conference party candidate K. Zahmingthanga secured 50 votes.

With this, the MNF retained the Dampa seat, which fell vacant after the death of its incumbent legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.

MNF president Zoramthanga said that collective and dedicated efforts by party leadership and workers have led the party to win a victory in the bypoll.

"The Almighty God blessed our collective efforts, dedication, and robust coordination at a time when the ZPM's wave is still blowing. We are highly indebted to the people for choosing our senior vice president R. Lalthangliana to fill the vacuum left by our departed MLA," Zoramthanga said while addressing a post-election gathering at the MNF office.

Although the ruling party tried its best, with the Election Commission even reprimanding Chief Minister Lalduhoma and other leaders for violating poll codes, the MNF was able to win the Dampa bypoll, he said.

The former chief minister also exuded hope that his party will return to power in the next assembly election, to be held in 2028.

He claimed that the divine always guides the MNF and will unseat it from power when it becomes too proud, but reinstates the party to power whenever Mizoram faces serious challenges like the famine, fire incident, swine fever outbreak, Covid-19 pandemic, and border dispute, among others.

Lalthangliana also attributed his victory to collective efforts by the party, his close acquaintance with Dampa people, and his political experience and seniority.

“My victory is not for me, but for the people of Dampa constituency. I give all the credit to God Almighty, who has prepared a way for me. God did everything for me, and I am just an instrument,” Lalthangliana said after winning the bypoll.

"There was good coordination among us. I have travelled across the entire constituency at least 6 times during the campaign, which gave me an advantage of establishing close relations with the people. Moreover, people were familiar with me as I have been an MLA and a cabinet minister for several years. This political experience and seniority helped to win the heart of the people," the 69-year-old teacher-turned-politician added.

Lalthangliana was first elected to the state assembly in 1989 on the MNF ticket, and this is going to be his seventh time as a legislator.

He lost his home turf South Tuipui to ZPM's debutante and famous footballer Jeje Lalpekhlua in the 2023 assembly polls.

Lalthangliana was a cabinet minister in the last MNF dispensation headed by Zoramthanga during 2018-2023, holding the health, commerce and industries, and higher and technical education portfolios.

He is the current senior vice president of the MNF.

Lalthangliana is likely to head the MNF legislature party as the Leader of the Opposition.

A total of 83.07 per cent of 20,888 voters exercised their franchise in the Dampa bypoll held on Tuesday.

The bypoll outcome maintains the status quo in the 40-member Mizoram assembly, where ZPM has 27 members, MNF-10, BJP-2, and Congress-1.