Qalam Times Political Desk | June 23, 2025
In the recently held by-elections across four Indian states—Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, and West Bengal—the results revealed a reshaped political momentum ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Of the five assembly constituencies where polls were conducted on June 19, the opposition INDIA alliance secured victories in four, while the ruling NDA managed to win just one.
Gujarat: A Seat Each for BJP and AAP
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) retained their respective strongholds in Gujarat. In Kadi, a Scheduled Caste reserved seat, BJP’s Rajendra Chavda clinched a resounding victory, amassing 99,742 votes and defeating Congress candidate Ramesh Chavda, who secured 60,290 votes. This bypoll was necessitated by the demise of sitting BJP MLA Karshan Solanki in February.
Meanwhile, in Visavadar, AAP’s Gopal Italia, former state party president, won decisively over BJP’s Kirit Patel, a former state president himself. Italia secured victory by 17,554 votes, ensuring AAP retained control over the constituency after their previous MLA Bhupendra Bhayani defected to the BJP in 2023, prompting the by-election.
Punjab: AAP Triumphs in Ludhiana West
The Ludhiana West by-election in Punjab was conducted following the accidental death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi in January. AAP fielded Sanjeev Arora, a former Rajya Sabha member and industrialist, who defeated Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu by a margin of 10,637 votes. BJP’s Jeevan Gupta and Shiromani Akali Dal’s candidate trailed behind in third and fourth places, respectively.
Celebrating the dual wins in Gujarat and Punjab, AAP leader Manish Sisodia called it a morale booster for party workers and emphasized that Punjab’s verdict signals strong public approval of the Bhagwant Mann government’s performance. “These victories are like semi-finals before the 2027 elections,” he remarked.
Kerala: Congress Wrests Nilambur from the Left
In a surprising turn, Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) captured the Nilambur seat from the Left Democratic Front (LDF), marking a significant win in Kerala. Aryadan Shoukath, the Congress candidate, defeated CPI(M)’s M Swaraj by a margin of 11,077 votes. The seat had previously been held by Anwar, an LDF-backed independent who resigned earlier this year after joining the Trinamool Congress. Anwar contested the bypoll but finished third, collecting 19,760 votes.
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, also the MP from nearby Wayanad, extended her congratulations to Shoukath, lauding his service and commitment. “This victory reflects the people’s faith in the values of the Constitution and the UDF’s progressive vision,” she stated on social media.
West Bengal: TMC Holds Ground in Kaliganj
In West Bengal’s Kaliganj, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) comfortably retained the seat with Alifa Ahmed, daughter of late MLA Nasiruddin (Lal) Ahmed, defeating BJP’s Ashish Ghosh by a margin of 50,049 votes. Congress-backed CPI(M) candidate Kabiluddin Ahmed came third with 28,348 votes.
This by-election was triggered by the death of Nasiruddin Ahmed, who had won the 2021 Assembly election with a margin of 46,987 votes. Alifa not only matched her father’s legacy but extended the winning margin, reinforcing TMC’s foothold in the region.
While most parties retained their existing seats, the Congress’ gain in Nilambur marks a notable shift in Kerala’s political landscape. AAP’s performance in both Gujarat and Punjab has revitalized its national relevance, especially after its recent defeat in the Delhi Assembly elections. Political observers now speculate whether the Congress and AAP may consider collaboration in Gujarat to challenge BJP’s dominance in the future.
This mixed bag of results suggests evolving dynamics within the INDIA bloc, and while the NDA managed just one win, the verdict underscores the continued fragmentation and realignment of opposition forces at the state level.
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