Polling for Dampa assembly seat underway, 34.38 pc turnout recorded till 11 am

Aizawl, Nov 11 (PTI) A total of 34.38 per cent of over 20,000 voters exercised their franchise till 11 am on Tuesday in the by-election to Dampa assembly seat in Mizoram’s Mamit district, an official said.

It was necessitated following the death of incumbent MNF legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo in July.

The bypoll is considered a litmus test for the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM), as the result is likely to influence the upcoming Lai Autonomous District Council (LADC) elections on December 3 and the Aizawl Municipal Corporation (AMC) polls later this year.

If the ZPM wins the polls, it would boost the party's morale amid mounting criticism from opposition parties, observers said.

For the MNF, the bypoll holds special significance, as a defeat would further reduce its strength in the 40-member Assembly and jeopardise its claim to the post of Leader of Opposition.

A party requires at least 10 MLAs for the position, and the MNF currently has nine following Sailo’s death.

The BJP, which is striving to expand its base in the Christian-majority state, sees the contest as an opportunity to strengthen its foothold. The party currently has two legislators in the Assembly.

Polling is underway in all the 41 polling stations under tight security, state Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Lalrozama said.

Although there were issues with VVPAT in some polling stations before voting started, they were immediately replaced, he said.

The assembly segment has a mixture of Mizo and minority populations like the Chakmas and the Brus.

Dampa is one of the three assembly segments in Mamit, the lone aspirational district in the state, which shares an international border with Bangladesh and inter-state boundary with Tripura. PTI CORR MNB