Aizawl: Campaigning for the by-election to the Dampa Assembly constituency in Mizoram’s Mamit district concluded on Sunday, setting the stage for polling on Tuesday, election officials said.
A total of 21,003 voters are eligible to cast their votes to decide the fate of five candidates in the fray. The counting of votes will take place on November 14, officials added.
Mamit election officer Lalnunfela Chawngthu said polling personnel assigned to six remote polling stations departed for their destinations on Sunday, while those for the remaining 35 polling stations will leave on Monday.
He added that three sections of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have also been dispatched to three critical polling stations in Silsury, near the Bangladesh border, to ensure smooth and peaceful polling.
As campaigning drew to a close, political parties made their final appeals to voters. Although the campaign officially ended on Sunday, parties organised closing functions in various villages a day earlier.
At a campaign-closing event in Reiek village on Saturday, opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) president Zoramthanga launched a sharp attack on the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), claiming the government may not last its full term.
“People have now understood the nature of ZPM’s governance. The party may not survive till the end of its term and will be wiped out in the 2028 Assembly polls,” Zoramthanga asserted, expressing confidence that the MNF would return to power and rectify the “mistakes and errors” made by the current administration.
In contrast, Health Minister and ZPM leader Lalhlimpuii, addressing a campaign event at West Phaileng village, defended her government’s performance, saying the ZPM had carefully planned its policies before assuming office in 2023.
“Before we came to power, 39 primary health centres had no doctors and about 80 villages were without health workers. We have filled those gaps,” she said, adding that the Mizoram Universal Healthcare Scheme (MUHCS) introduced by the ZPM government has provided significant benefits to the people.
The Dampa by-election was necessitated by the death of sitting MNF legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.
The ZPM has fielded Mizo singer and preacher Vanlalsailova, while the MNF has nominated former health minister Dr. R. Lalthangliana.
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The Congress fielded party vice president and former transport minister John Rotluangliana. The BJP has nominated Lalhmingthanga, while former chief minister Brig. T Sailo’s party (People’s Conference) fielded its vice president, K Zahmingthanga.
