Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Thursday said that the Centre is determined to transform Mamit, Mizoram’s only aspirational district, into a developed one under a BJP-led government.

Speaking at a campaign rally at Silsury village in the Dampa constituency, Singh stated that states governed by the BJP have achieved rapid progress and that Mizoram, too, requires a government aligned with the Centre to ensure similar growth.

He assured that the Centre would work to upgrade Mamit from its aspirational district status if the BJP candidate wins the upcoming assembly bypoll. Singh added that the Dampa region would also witness major development initiatives under a BJP government.

Emphasizing the NDA government’s continued focus on the Northeast, Singh said that the administration under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has consistently prioritised the development of the region.

Singh, who arrived in Mizoram on Wednesday, campaigned for BJP candidate Lalhmingthanga before returning to Delhi after addressing the rally.

The Dampa assembly bypoll, scheduled for November 11, will see five candidates contesting. The ruling Zoram People’s Movement (ZPM) has fielded singer and preacher Vanlalsailova, while the Mizo National Front (MNF) has nominated its senior vice president and former health minister Dr R. Lalthangliana. The Congress is represented by its vice president and former transport minister John Rotluangliana.

BJP’s Lalhmingthanga, who recently joined the party, and People’s Conference vice president K. Zahmingthanga, are also in the fray.

A total of 20,790 voters, including 10,185 women, are eligible to cast their votes in the bypoll, which was necessitated by the death of sitting MNF MLA Lalrintluanga Sailo on July 21.