Aizawl: The November 11 by-election to the Dampa Assembly constituency in Mizoram is shaping up to be a fierce four-cornered contest, with candidates from the ruling and opposition parties already in the fray.
According to election officials, four contenders have filed their nominations so far — Vanlalsailova from the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), R. Lalthangliana of the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), Congress leader John Rotluangliana, and BJP’s Lalhmangaiha.
ZPM’s Vanlalsailova, a well-known gospel singer and preacher, faces a formidable challenge from MNF’s Lalthangliana, the party’s vice president and former health minister.
Congress candidate Rotluangliana, a former minister and state vice president, and Lalhmangaiha, a former Congress leader who recently joined the BJP, complete the high-profile lineup.
Nominations will close on October 21, with scrutiny set for the following day and the final date for withdrawal of papers on October 24.
Polling will take place on November 11, while counting of votes is scheduled for November 14.
The seat, located in western Mizoram’s Mamit district, fell vacant following the death of MNF MLA Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.
The Election Commission has appointed three central observers — General, Police, and Expenditure — to oversee the bypoll, with security being handled by state police under Inspector General H. Ramthlengliana.
The Dampa constituency, which shares a border with Bangladesh, has a diverse electorate of 20,790 voters, including 10,185 women, as per the final electoral rolls published on September 30.
The region is home to significant minority communities, including the Chakma and Reang tribes.
Once a Congress bastion since Mizoram attained statehood in 1987, Dampa shifted its allegiance to the MNF in 2018, marking a setback for the grand old party.
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Now, the stakes are high for both the ruling ZPM and the MNF.
For Chief Minister Lalduhoma’s ZPM, a defeat could signal waning public support ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections.
On the other hand, an MNF victory would serve as a major boost for the opposition, potentially helping the party retain its status as the main opposition in the state assembly, where it needs at least 10 seats to hold the Leader of Opposition post.
With major parties already on the campaign trail even before the poll dates were announced, Dampa is set to witness one of Mizoram’s most closely contested political battles in recent years.
