In Punjab's Ludhiana West, Sanjeev Arora won the seat with a majority of 10,637 votes over Congress' Bharat Bhushan Ashu.
Published Jun 23, 2025 | 4:49 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 23, 2025 | 4:49 PM
Bypolls. (iStock)
Synopsis: Bypolls held on June 19 for five seats across Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, and West Bengal saw AAP win in Ludhiana West and Visavadar, Congress in Nilambur, BJP in Kadi, and TMC in Kaliganj. The contests followed resignations or deaths of sitting MLAs. AAP called the wins a morale boost, especially in Punjab and Gujarat.
The Election Commission of India on 19 June, held by elections for five seats —two seats in Gujarat’s Visavadar and Kadi, and one each in Kerala’s Nilambur, Punjab’s Ludhiana West, and West Bengal’s Kaliganj, for which the counting has taken place on Monday, 23 June.
Among the five seats, while Congress won the Nilambur seat, AAP won Punjab’s Ludhiana West and Gujarat’s Visavadar. Meanwhile BJP won the other seat in Gujarat— Kadi, and TMC won West Bengal’s Kaliganj.
According to The Hindu report, Nilambur recorded 73.26 percent voter turnout, Ludhiana West recorded 51.33 percent, Kadi recorded 54.49 percent, Visavadar recorded 54.61 percent and Kaliganj recorded 69.89 percent.
Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP has secured one seat each in Gujarat and Punjab.
In Ludhiana West, Sanjeev Arora won the seat with a majority of 10,637 votes over Congress’ Bharat Bhushan Ashu.
The seat fell vacant after former AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi died of a self-inflicted bullet injury in January.
On the other hand, Italia Gopal won the Visavadar seat with a majority of 17,554 votes over BJP’s Kirit Patel.
The seat has remained vacant since 2023, following the resignation of then-AAP legislator Bhupendra Bhayani, who later joined the BJP.
Punjab AAP incharge, Manish Sisodia speaking to the news agency noted, “This is a matter of great joy for every worker of AAP that the party has won two seats in by-elections. Both seats are very important.”
On Punjab he claimed, “This boosts the morale of AAP workers in Punjab. People of Punjab have given their stamp of approval on the works done by the Bhagwant Mann Govt. They are happy with the work being done. It was being discussed in Punjab that these are semi-finals. We have won the semi-final, it is now time for final.”
“Gujarat too was very important for us. Gopal Italia is a sharp leader, to raise the issues of Gujarat and raise the voices of all those people whose voices were always suppressed – he will emerge as a strong voice,” he added.
The other seat in Gujarat, Kadi, a reserved seat, has been won by BJP’s Rajendrakumar Daneshwar Chavda also known as Rajubhai.
He won the seat with a majority of 39,452 votes over Congress’ Rameshbhai Chavda.
The seat has been vacant since February after the passing of BJP MLA Karsan Solanki.
In West Bengal, which is set to head for Assembly elections in 2026, TMC has retained the Kaligunj seat.
Alfia Ahmed won the seat with a majority of 50,049 votes over BJP’s Ashish Gosh.
The bypoll became necessary after the death of TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed, Alifa’s father, in February.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
