The Mizo National Front (MNF), the main opposition party of the northeastern state, retained the Dampa Assembly seat when the by-election result was declared on Friday. MNF candidate R Lalthangliana defeated his nearest rival Vanlalsailova of the ruling Zoram People's Movement (ZPM), by a margin of 562 votes, according to the Election Commission.
Congress nominee John Rotluangalian stood third, securing 2,394 votes, while BJP candidate Lalhmingthanga clinched fourth place, securing 1,541 votes. Lalthangliana secured 6,981 votes, which is 40.23 per cent of the total vote share. With 6,419 votes, Vanlalsailova bagged 36.61 per cent of the total polled votes in the seat that falls under Mizoram's Mamit district.
Lalthangliana was a cabinet minister holding different portfolios, including health and commerce and industries, in the last MNF dispensation headed by Zoramthanga.
A total of 83.07 per cent of 20,888 voters exercised their franchise in the Dampa by-election held on November 11.
The Dampa seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.
In the last Assembly polls held in November 2023, Sailo defeated his nearest opponent, Vanlalsailova, by a margin of 292 votes.
Meanwhile, JMM candidate Somesh Chandra Soren was leading by 7,541 votes over his nearest rival Babulal Soren of the BJP in the by-election to the Ghatshila Assembly seat in Jharkhand's East Singhbhum district on Friday. Thirteen candidates are in the fray, but the main contest is likely to be between Somesh Chandra Soren of the JMM and the BJP's Babulal Soren, son of former chief minister Champai Soren.
Somesh is the son of JMM MLA Ramdas Soren, whose death on August 15 necessitated the by-election.