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Aizawl, October 20 (IANS) There is a possibility of a multi-cornered contest in the by-election to be held on November 11 in Dampa assembly constituency of Mizoram.
So far, four candidates from the ruling and opposition parties have filed their candidature for the by-election, election officials said. The candidates who filed nomination papers included Vanlalsailova of the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), R Lalthangliana of the opposition Mizo National Front (MNF), Lalhamangaiha of the BJP and John Rotluangaliana of the Congress.
ZPM’s Vanlalsailova is a prominent Mizo singer and preacher, while MNF’s Lalthangliyana is the party’s vice-president and former state health minister.
Rotluangliyana is Congress state vice-president and former minister, and BJP candidate Lalmingthanga is a former Congress leader who recently joined the saffron party.
The last date for filing nominations is October 21 and the papers will be scrutinized the next day (Wednesday). The last date for withdrawal of candidature is 24 October. Voting for Dampa assembly seat will be held on November 11.
Counting of votes will take place on November 14. Dampa assembly seat in western Mizoram’s Mamit district fell vacant after the death of opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) MLA Lalrintluanga Selo on July 21.
The Election Commission has appointed three central observers – General Observer, Police Observer and Expenditure Observer – to monitor the election process and related aspects.
Adequate security measures are being taken for the by-election under the supervision of State Police Nodal Officer H. Ramathlengliana, Inspector General of Police (Headquarters and Law and Order).
With four strong candidates in the fray, the upcoming by-election is expected to be one of the most watched political battles in Mizoram.
The ruling and opposition political parties have started their campaign on this politically important assembly seat after announcing their candidates much before the Election Commission announced the voting schedule on October 6.
Dampa assembly seat, bordering neighboring country Bangladesh, has a large minority population including Chakma and Reang tribals. According to the final voter list published on September 30, a total of 20,790 voters, including 10,185 women, are eligible to cast their votes.
This assembly seat has been a Congress stronghold since Mizoram became a full-fledged state in 1987. However, the seat has been under MNF control since 2018, weakening Congress’s influence in the area. Dampa by-election has important stakes for both the ruling ZPM and the opposition MNF.
For Chief Minister Lalduhoma-led ZPM, the defeat could signal a decline in its popularity ahead of the 2028 state assembly elections. ZPM came to power in the Christian-majority state for the first time in 2023 by defeating MNF.
For the MNF, a victory would not only rejuvenate the party ahead of the 2028 elections but could also be crucial in retaining its claim to the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) post. The MNF, which ruled the border state for many years, must have at least 10 seats in the 40-member state assembly to retain the LOP post.
–IANS
SC/And