Northeast Press | June 24, 2025
Assembly Bypolls 2025: BJP, AAP, TMC Retain Strongholds; Congress Makes Gains in Kerala’s Nilambur
In the recently concluded Assembly bypolls held across five states, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and Trinamool Congress (TMC) successfully defended their respective strongholds, while the Indian National Congress scored a notable victory in Kerala’s Nilambur constituency. The results serve as a political pulse-check just a year before key Assembly elections.
In Gujarat’s Kadi, the BJP comfortably retained its seat. Rajendrakumar Chavda won with 99,742 votes, defeating Congress’ Rameshbhai Chavda, who secured 60,290 votes. AAP’s Jagdishbhai Chavda finished a distant third with 3,090 votes. The by-election was necessitated by the demise of sitting BJP MLA Karsanbhai Punjabhai Solanki. BJP’s winning margin stood at 39,452 votes.
In Visavadar, Gujarat, AAP celebrated a strong comeback. Despite BJP previously managing to woo AAP’s sitting MLA Bhayani Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai, AAP retained the seat with Gopal Italia securing 75,942 votes against BJP’s Kirti Patel, who managed 58,388 votes. Congress candidate Nitin Ranpariya received 5,501 votes. AAP not only retained the seat but also increased its margin from 6,904 in 2022 to 17,554.
AAP also held its seat in Ludhiana West, Punjab, where the bypoll was necessitated following the death of MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. AAP’s Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora won the contest by 10,637 votes, defeating Congress’ Bharat Bhushan Ashu. BJP’s Jiwan Gupta secured 20,323 votes. Arora’s expected resignation from the Rajya Sabha may open the door for party chief Arvind Kejriwal to consider a return to Parliament’s Upper House.
Congress registered an important victory in Kerala’s Nilambur after nearly a decade. Aryadan Shoukath won the seat with 77,737 votes, defeating CPI(M)’s M Swaraj who polled 66,660 votes. Former MLA PV Anvar, who had contested as an independent after his fallout with CPI(M) and subsequent disqualification as a Trinamool Congress nominee, managed 19,760 votes.
The seat was previously held by Anvar, a Left-backed independent who resigned following disagreements with CPI(M). Congress’ return to the seat marks a morale boost for the party, especially in a region not traditionally considered a Left stronghold.
Trinamool Congress registered a sweeping victory in Kaliganj, West Bengal. Alifa Ahmed secured a commanding lead, garnering 1,02,759 votes and defeating BJP’s Ashish Ghosh, who trailed with 52,710 votes. Congress’ Kabiluddin Shaikh came third with 28,348 votes. TMC’s victory margin of 50,049 votes reflects its continued dominance in the state.
| Constituency | Winner | Party | Votes | Runner-up | Victory Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kadi, Gujarat | Rajendrakumar Chavda | BJP | 99,742 | Rameshbhai Chavda (Congress) | 39,452 |
| Visavadar, Gujarat | Gopal Italia | AAP | 75,942 | Kirti Patel (BJP) | 17,554 |
| Ludhiana West, Punjab | Sanjeev Arora | AAP | 35,179 | Bharat Bhushan Ashu (Congress) | 10,637 |
| Nilambur, Kerala | Aryadan Shoukath | Congress | 77,737 | M Swaraj (CPI(M)) | 11,077 |
| Kaliganj, West Bengal | Alifa Ahmed | TMC | 1,02,759 | Ashish Ghosh (BJP) | 50,049 |
These bypoll results reflect the current political landscape and will play a crucial role in shaping party strategies ahead of the upcoming state elections.
To learn more, visit https://www.eci.gov.in/bye-elections
For comprehensive election coverage and political updates from across the Northeast and beyond, stay with Northeast Press
🌐 www.northeastpress.in
