Mizoram Assembly Elections: What makes Dampa a pivotal seat for BJP?

BJP has chosen its state president Vanlalhmuaka from Dampa.

Dampa turned pivotal out of the 40 Assembly constituencies in Mizoram with the BJP fielding its state president Vanlalhmuaka on the poll turf.

Vanlalhmuaka is running against the incumbent Mizo National Front (MNF) legislator Lalrintluanga Sailo, along with the Congress' Lalhmingthanga Sailo and the Zoram People’s Movement's Vanlalsailova.

In the 2018 Assembly elections, Sailo had clinched the seat with a narrow margin of 1,657 votes, defeating the Congress' Lalrobiaka. Sailo had received 5,840 votes, while Lalrobiaka garnered 4,183 votes, making for a vote percentage of 27.82 percent.

However, K Lalrimawia of the BJP had bagged 3,051 votes and secured the third slot. The party had won only one seat in the state - Tuichawng.

This time, the Congress is accusing the BJP of prioritising the crisis in Israel over resolving the ethnic conflict raging in Manipur since May.

Vanlalhmuaka took over the reins of the state BJP in 2020, replacing JV Hluna. Before becoming the state president, he served as the party’s general secretary. He holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Sociology from St. Edmund's College (NEHU) in Shillong, Meghalaya.

In the run-up to the Assembly polls, Vanlalhmuaka expressed confidence, saying this time the BJP would either come to power or be part of the government if it doesn’t secure a majority in Mizoram.

The current term of the Assembly ends on December 17 and the counting of votes is scheduled on December 3 along with Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh.