Hyderabad — The results of high-stakes assembly bypolls held across five states have painted a politically diverse picture, with the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) registering significant victories even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Trinamool Congress (TMC) retained their respective strongholds.
Polling in the five constituencies took place on June 19, with the results announced today following the counting of votes.
Congress Upsets LDF in Kerala’s Nilambur
In a major political upset in Kerala, Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath emerged victorious in the Nilambur constituency, defeating CPI(M)’s M Swaraj by a margin of 11,077 votes. The seat, which falls under the Wayanad Lok Sabha segment represented by Priyanka Gandhi, witnessed a voter turnout of 75.87 per cent.
Shoukath’s win, seen as a blow to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s Left Democratic Front (LDF), marks the fourth bypoll defeat for the ruling coalition in its current term. The former MLA, CPI(M)-backed independent PV Anwar, finished third. It is the first time the LDF has lost a sitting seat to its rivals during this tenure.
BJP Retains Kadi, Faces AAP Setback in Gujarat
In Gujarat, the BJP managed to retain the Kadi seat comfortably, with its candidate Rajendrakumar Chavda defeating Congress’ Ramesh Chavda by 39,452 votes. The victory came in the wake of former MLA Karshan Solanki’s passing. Voter turnout stood at 56.89 per cent.
However, the saffron party suffered a jolt in the Visavadar constituency, where AAP’s Gopal Italia secured a decisive win over BJP’s Kirit Patel by over 17,000 votes. Italia, a former state party chief, gained 75,942 votes, while Patel managed 58,388. Congress finished a distant third, highlighting AAP’s growing foothold in the region where the BJP hasn’t tasted success since 2007.
The seat became vacant after AAP’s Bhupendra Bhayani resigned and joined the BJP in 2023.
AAP Holds Ground in Punjab’s Ludhiana West
In Punjab, AAP candidate Sanjeev Arora retained the Ludhiana West seat by defeating Congress’ Bharat Bhushan Ashu by over 10,000 votes. The bypoll was necessitated by the death of sitting AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. The constituency saw a four-way contest, with the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal also in the fray. Voter turnout was recorded at 51.33 per cent.
TMC Wins Kaliganj in Bengal, Maintains Grip
TMC continued its dominance in West Bengal with Alifa Ahmed winning the Kaliganj seat, defeating BJP’s Ashish Ghosh by over 5,000 votes. The seat had fallen vacant following the demise of Nasiruddin Ahmed, the previous TMC MLA.
Alifa, a 38-year-old former IT professional, thanked the people for supporting Mamata Banerjee’s “development politics”. Voter turnout stood at 69.85 per cent.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee hailed the victory on social media, calling it a “blessing from Maa, Mati, and Manush”.
Kejriwal Terms Results a ‘Semi-Final to 2027’
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal described the bypoll outcomes as a “semi-final” to the 2027 assembly elections in Gujarat and Punjab, claiming the results indicated voters were “rejecting both BJP and Congress”.
“Despite BJP and Congress trying to stop us together, the people have made it clear that they want honest politics,” Kejriwal said on X.
Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann echoed the sentiment, stating the result reflects public satisfaction with the AAP government’s performance.
After Gujarat Defeat, Congress Chief Resigns
The Congress suffered setbacks in both Gujarat constituencies—losing Nilambur and performing poorly in Visavadar. In response, Gujarat Congress president Shaktisinh Gohil resigned, taking moral responsibility for the party’s defeat.
Conclusion
The bypoll results signal a fragmented yet evolving political landscape. While BJP and TMC continue to hold sway in their bastions, the Congress has made a notable gain in Kerala, and AAP has shown growing traction in both Gujarat and Punjab—states crucial to its 2027 ambitions. With both regional and national players recalibrating strategies, the stage is set for a fiercely competitive political future.
