Aizawl, Nov 14 (UNI) The Mizo National Front (MNF) scored a significant victory in the Dampa assembly bye-election, with party vice president and former minister R. Lalthangliana defeating ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) candidate Vanlalsailova by 562 votes as results were declared on Friday.
Lalthangliana garnered 6,981 votes against Vanlalsailova’s 6,419 in Tuesday’s polling.
Former minister John Rotluangliana of the Indian National Congress (INC) secured 2,394 votes, followed by BJP nominee Lalhmingthanga Sailo with 1,541 votes.
People’s Conference candidate K. Zahmingthanga finished with 50 votes. In terms of vote share, Lalthangliana claimed 40 per cent, Vanlalsailova 37 per cent, Rotluangliana 14 per cent and Sailo 9 per cent.
The bye-election was held following the death of sitting MNF legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.
The outcome marks only the third occasion in Mizoram’s political history where an opposition party has seized a seat in a bye-election. The first instance was in 1983, when Liansuama of the INC defeated the ruling PC candidate in the erstwhile Phuldungsei constituency, now known as Dampa.
The second occurred in 2021, when current chief minister Lalduhoma captured the Serchhip seat, defeating MNF vice president and former Lok Sabha MP Vanlalzawma after being disqualified earlier as an independent MLA for associating with the ZPM.
With the Dampa result, the ruling ZPM retains 27 seats in the 40-member Assembly, while the MNF continues to hold 10. The BJP and the INC remain at two and one seats respectively.
Political observers say the ZPM’s setback in Dampa reflects growing voter dissatisfaction with the government’s performance, particularly the deteriorating condition of key roads such as the Aizawl–Silchar highway (NH-306), which serves as the state’s lifeline. Rising service charges for electricity and water, despite frequent outages, have also contributed to public discontent, analysts noted.
