Aizawl: Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma on Tuesday expressed confidence that the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) will secure victory in the upcoming Dampa Assembly bypoll scheduled for November 11.
Dampa is an Assembly constituency located in Mamit district of Mizoram. The Dampa bypoll was necessitated by the death of MNF MLA Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.
Launching the party’s campaign at West Phaileng village in Mamit district, where the constituency is located, Lalduhoma said that electoral trends in the state have traditionally favoured the ruling party during assembly bypolls.
He noted that in the past, opposition parties managed to win such bypolls only twice, asserting that the ZPM remains well-positioned to retain public support and continue its developmental agenda in the state.
“Victory in an assembly bypoll is believed to favour the ruling party. I am hopeful that we will win the upcoming Dampa bypoll unless it goes wrong,” CM Lalduhoma said.
Lalduhoma also criticized the previous Congress and Mizo National Front (MNF) governments, which governed the Dampa constituency for nearly 38 years, holding them accountable for its “deplorable” condition.
He emphasized that his government is making concerted efforts to develop Mamit, the state’s only aspirational district, and highlighted that over Rs 700 crore has been earmarked to tackle water shortages in the Dampa area.
The ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has fielded Mizo singer and preacher Vanlalsailova, the main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) nominated party senior vice president and former health minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana, and Congress fielded party vice president and former transport minister John Rotluangliana.
The BJP nominated Lalhmangaiha, who recently joined the Saffron party and contested the Dampa seat in state assembly polls twice previously.
ALSO READ: Mizoram bypoll: People’s Conference party fields K. Zahmingthanga for Dampa seat
The People’s Conference (PC) party has officially announced its vice president, K. Zahmingthanga, as its candidate for the bypoll.
Nomination papers will be scrutinized on Wednesday (October 22), and the deadline for withdrawal of candidature is Friday (October 24).
