Mizoram: Mizo National Front Retains Dampa Assembly Seat as R Lalthangliana Wins By-election With 562-Vote Margin

The opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) successfully retained the Dampa assembly seat in Mizoram's Mamit district on Friday. MNF candidate R Lalthangliana emerged victorious in the bypoll, defeating Zoram People's Movement (ZPM) contender Vanlalsailova by a narrow margin of 562 votes, as confirmed by the Election Commission.

Lalthangliana garnered 6,981 votes, representing 40.23 percent of the total votes cast. His closest competitor, Vanlalsailova of the ruling ZPM, secured 6,419 votes, accounting for 36.61 percent of the total ballots.

Congress candidate John Rotluangalian finished third with 2,394 votes, while BJP's Lalhmingthanga took fourth place with 1,541 votes. People's Conference Party candidate K Zahmingthanga received 50 votes in the contest.

The winning candidate, Lalthangliana, previously served as a cabinet minister in the former MNF government led by Zoramthanga, where he held various portfolios including health, commerce, and industries.

Voter participation was robust in the November 11 Dampa bypoll, with 83.07 percent of the 20,888 registered voters exercising their democratic right.

The bypoll was necessitated following the death of sitting MNF legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21. In the November 2023 assembly elections, Sailo had defeated Vanlalsailova by just 292 votes.

The MNF's ability to maintain its hold on this constituency demonstrates the party's continued influence in Mizoram politics despite being in opposition.