Assembly Bypoll Result 2025: BJP leads on 2 seats in Gujarat, Congress in Kerala; AAP nears victory to retain Ludhiana West
PTC News Desk: Early trends show the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) leading in Nilambur, Kerala, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has taken an early lead in Ludhiana West, Punjab.
In West Bengal's Kaliganj—set to hold elections next year—the Trinamool Congress appears to be in a strong position. Meanwhile, the BJP is ahead in Gujarat’s Kadi and Visavadar constituencies, where it aims to end an 18-year losing streak. Vote counting began on Monday for assembly bypolls held on June 19 across five seats in four states: Visavadar and Kadi in Gujarat, Ludhiana West in Punjab, Kaliganj in Bengal, and Nilambur in Kerala.
The upcoming bypoll results are expected to serve as a litmus test for both the BJP and the opposition INDIA bloc, particularly in West Bengal and Kerala, which are heading for assembly elections next year. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which has maintained a low profile since its defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections, will also be under close scrutiny in Gujarat and Punjab.
KERALA BYPOLL
In Kerala’s Nilambur seat, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) has gained an early lead with Aryadan Shoukath, its 2016 candidate, in the fray.
The contest carries significant weight for Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, as Nilambur falls within her Wayanad constituency. She had conducted a roadshow in the area ahead of the June 19 bypolls. The seat was vacated after Left-backed independent MLA PV Anvar resigned following a rift with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Anvar, who had won the seat by a narrow margin of 2,700 votes in 2021, later joined the Trinamool Congress.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF) has fielded M Swaraj, while the BJP is represented by Advocate Mohan George.
PUNJAB BYPOLL
In Punjab’s Ludhiana West, AAP candidate and former Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, an industrialist, has taken the lead. His performance will indicate whether the party still commands support in the state. Congress candidate Bharat Bhushan Ashu trails in second place, followed by the BJP's Jiwan Gupta.
The seat became vacant after AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi died by suicide in January.
AAP, still recovering from its setback in Delhi, is aiming to retain the seat, with prominent leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Atishi actively campaigning for Arora.
Since its creation in 1977, the seat has been won six times by Congress and twice by the Shiromani Akali Dal.
GUJARAT BYPOLLS
The BJP is leading in both Visavadar and Kadi assembly constituencies. In Visavadar, the party has fielded former district president Kirit Patel, hoping to break a losing streak that dates back to 2007. AAP's Gopal Italia, a key figure from the 2015 Patidar agitation and former state party president, is trailing closely behind. Congress’s Nitin Ranpariya remains a distant third.
The Visavadar seat became vacant after AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani resigned and joined the BJP in 2023.
In Kadi, where the seat has been reserved for Scheduled Castes and lies in Mehsana district, the BJP’s Rajendra Chavda is leading. The seat had fallen vacant following the death of BJP MLA Karsan Solanki in February. Congress and AAP have fielded Ramesh Chavda (who won here in 2012) and Jagdish Chavda, respectively.
BENGAL BYPOLL
In Kaliganj, Nadia district, Trinamool Congress candidate Alifa Ahmed has taken a strong lead over Congress’s Kabil Uddin Shaaikh.
The bypoll was held following the death of Alifa’s father and sitting TMC MLA, Nasiruddin Ahmed, in February. The BJP has nominated Ashish Ghosh for the seat.
- With inputs from agencies
