Dampa bypoll: Parties showcase strength as campaigning ends
Aizawl: Electioneering for the by-election in Mizoram’s Dampa assembly constituency concluded on Saturday, with political parties wrapping up their campaigns in a series of grand events across major villages such as West Phaileng and Reiek. Smaller villages also witnessed low-key campaign activities.
In the minority-dominated Silsury village near the Bangladesh border, campaign closing functions were held on Friday and Saturday. The ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), Congress, and the main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) held press conferences in Aizawl, urging voters in the Dampa constituency to support their candidates in the upcoming bye-poll.
Saturday's events were marked by street concerts featuring well-known singers, aimed at boosting attendance and demonstrating party strength. People's Conference (PC) party maintained a low-key campaign throughout the period.
The ZPM emphasized that their candidate, being part of the ruling party, would facilitate development in the constituency. In contrast, opposition parties argued that the ZPM's candidate, Vanlalsailova, a singer-turned-preacher-turned-politician, would not secure a ministerial position and would be ineffective as a legislator. The BJP’s campaign slogan, “Dampa to Delhi, Delhi to Dampa” (D2D), promised developmental initiatives from the central BJP-led govt.
Congress and MNF, fielding former ministers and seasoned politicians, claimed their candidates possess the expertise to drive development in the constituency.
While all four major parties expressed confidence in their chances of winning, political analysts predict a close contest between ZPM’s Vanlalsailova and MNF's R. Lalthangliana, a former minister and senior vice-president of MNF.
The bypoll is significant for both ZPM and MNF, serving as a test of the ruling party's two-year governance and MNF’s prospects in the 2028 state assembly elections, as well as its status as the leader of the opposition in the state legislative assembly.
In the minority-dominated Silsury village near the Bangladesh border, campaign closing functions were held on Friday and Saturday. The ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), Congress, and the main opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) held press conferences in Aizawl, urging voters in the Dampa constituency to support their candidates in the upcoming bye-poll.
Saturday's events were marked by street concerts featuring well-known singers, aimed at boosting attendance and demonstrating party strength. People's Conference (PC) party maintained a low-key campaign throughout the period.
The ZPM emphasized that their candidate, being part of the ruling party, would facilitate development in the constituency. In contrast, opposition parties argued that the ZPM's candidate, Vanlalsailova, a singer-turned-preacher-turned-politician, would not secure a ministerial position and would be ineffective as a legislator. The BJP’s campaign slogan, “Dampa to Delhi, Delhi to Dampa” (D2D), promised developmental initiatives from the central BJP-led govt.
Congress and MNF, fielding former ministers and seasoned politicians, claimed their candidates possess the expertise to drive development in the constituency.
While all four major parties expressed confidence in their chances of winning, political analysts predict a close contest between ZPM’s Vanlalsailova and MNF's R. Lalthangliana, a former minister and senior vice-president of MNF.
The bypoll is significant for both ZPM and MNF, serving as a test of the ruling party's two-year governance and MNF’s prospects in the 2028 state assembly elections, as well as its status as the leader of the opposition in the state legislative assembly.
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