Kolasib : Mizo National Front (MNF) leader and former rural development minister Lalruatkima has said the ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) is losing public confidence and will face defeat in the 2028 Mizoram assembly elections.

Speaking at an MNF meeting in the Serlui South block of Kolasib district, Lalruatkima accused the ZPM government of poor governance during its two-year tenure. He alleged that the administration had increased taxes and collected cess for road construction without delivering visible results.

“The ZPM is in the ICU. People are dissatisfied and worried under its rule. The party will not win the 2028 assembly elections,” he said. He also claimed that the Congress has lost relevance in Mizoram, mirroring its national decline, and expressed confidence that the MNF would win the upcoming Dampa bypoll.

Polling for the Dampa by-election is scheduled for November 11, with 20,790 voters, including 10,185 women, set to decide the fate of five candidates. Counting will be held on November 14.

The ZPM has fielded singer and preacher Vanlalsailova, while the MNF has nominated senior vice-president and former health minister R. Lalthangliana. The Congress candidate is its vice-president and former transport minister John Rotluangliana. Lalhmingthanga of the BJP and K. Zahmingthanga of the People’s Conference are also in the fray.

The bypoll was necessitated by the death of incumbent MNF MLA Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.