Congress wins Mizoram assembly by-poll

Ruling Congress candidate John Siamkunga trounced K Lalsanga, an Independent candidate supported by Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) and the Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) by a margin of 3,307 votes to assembly bypoll to South Tuipui seat.      

With this win, ruling Congress led by chief minister Lal Thanhawla has now 32 MLAs in the 40-member Mizoram Assembly.      

Polling for the by-poll was held on April 16 along with the election to the lone Mizoram Lok Sabha seat and the by-poll was necessitated after Lal Thanhawla, who won from Serchhip and South Tuipui seats in December two assembly polls vacated the seat.       

The party break-up in the state legislature now is Congress 32, MNF 3, MPC 2, Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) 2 and Mara Democratic Front (MDF) one.