New Delhi: In a high-stakes round of assembly bypolls held on June 19, early results have delivered mixed but significant outcomes across four states. The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) scored a morale-boosting victory in Kerala’s Nilambur, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) pulled off a surprise win in Gujarat’s Visavadar. The BJP retained its hold over Kadi in Gujarat with a decisive margin. Meanwhile, AAP is leading in Punjab’s Ludhiana West, and the Trinamool Congress has secured a clear in West Bengal’s Kaliganj.
The results are being viewed as a political litmus test for the BJP and the INDIA bloc, particularly in Kerala and West Bengal, where state elections are due in 2026. For the AAP, which has remained largely low-profile since its defeat in the Delhi Assembly polls, today’s performance has signalled a return to form in key regions.
Gujarat Bypolls: AAP Takes Visavadar, BJP Sweeps Kadi
AAP’s Gopal Italia, a prominent figure from the 2015 Patidar agitation, pulled off a strong victory in Visavadar, defeating BJP’s Kirit Patel by over 17,000 votes. Italia polled 75,942 votes in a contest seen as crucial for both parties in the BJP-dominated state. The seat had been vacant since 2023 after AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani defected to the BJP.
In Kadi, BJP’s Rajendra Chavda retained the seat with a huge margin of over 39,000 votes. The seat, reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, had fallen vacant after the death of BJP MLA Karsan Solanki. Congress’s Ramesh Chavda and AAP’s Jagdish Chavda trailed in the triangular contest.
Punjab Bypoll: AAP Wins in Ludhiana West
In Ludhiana West, AAP’s Sanjeev Arora, a former Rajya Sabha MP and industrialist, secured the seat. The seat was vacated after the death of MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi in January. Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu and BJP’s Jiwan Gupta trail behind.
The result serves as a key indicator of whether AAP’s popularity in Punjab has endured after a string of electoral challenges. Top party leaders including Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia and Atishi had actively campaigned in the constituency.
Kerala Bypoll: Congress Wins Nilambur
Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath clinched a major victory in Nilambur, defeating the ruling Left’s M Swaraj by over 11,000 votes. Shoukath, the son of veteran Congress leader Aryadan Mohammad, secured 77,737 votes to Swaraj’s 66,660.
The win comes as a personal triumph for Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who campaigned in the constituency, which falls under her Wayanad Lok Sabha seat. The seat was previously held by PV Anvar, a Left-backed independent who resigned after a fallout with CM Pinarayi Vijayan and later joined the TMC. The BJP’s Mohan George finished a distant third.
Bengal Bypoll: TMC Secures Kaliganj
In West Bengal’s Kaliganj, TMC candidate Alifa Ahmed won against Congress’s Kabil Uddin Shaaikh. The bypoll was held following the death of her father and sitting MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed. BJP’s Ashish Ghosh is also in the fray.
Kaliganj, a rural seat with around 54 per cent Muslim voters, is shaping up to be a high-voltage preview of the TMC-BJP battle in the 2025 Assembly elections.
