In a major setback for the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala, Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath, representing the United Democratic Front (UDF), won the Nilambur Assembly by-election by a margin of 11,077 votes, defeating CPI(M)’s M Swaraj after 19 rounds of counting.
According to the Election Commission, Shoukath secured 77,737 votes, marking a significant turnaround in a seat previously held by the LDF. The bypoll was triggered by the resignation of LDF-backed independent MLA PV Anvar, who later joined the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC).
Celebrating the win, the Congress party said in a statement: “Successive bypoll wins and a clean sweep in the parliament elections by the Congress and UDF have proved beyond doubt that the anti-incumbency sentiment against the Pinarayi Vijayan government is gaining momentum. Now the anger of the people has reached its peak.”
AAP Gains Ground in Gujarat and Punjab:
In Gujarat’s Visavadar Assembly by-election, AAP’s Gopal Italia is leading by 17,554 votes over BJP’s Kirit Patel after 21 rounds of counting. The seat became vacant after the resignation of Bhayani Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai.
AAP Gujarat posted on X: “Many thanks to the people of Visavadar, Bhensan, and Junagadh for choosing the politics of work.”
Delhi AAP president Saurabh Bharadwaj termed it a “terrific bounce back,” pointing out AAP’s resurgence after recent political setbacks.
“This is a massive victory for AAP… After the loss in Delhi, we are winning Ludhiana West and Visavadar. Some claimed Kejriwal was sidelined — this proves otherwise,” Bharadwaj told ANI.
Other By-Election Trends:
- Ludhiana West (Punjab): AAP’s Sanjeev Arora leads by 7,504 votes over Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu after 11 rounds. The seat fell vacant after the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Gogi.
- Kaliganj (West Bengal): TMC’s Alifa Ahmed leads BJP’s Ashish Ghosh by 26,494 votes after 10 rounds. Congress trails in third. The seat was left vacant following the death of TMC’s Nasiruddin Ahmed.
- Kadi (Gujarat): BJP’s Rajendra Chavda has built a massive lead of 37,693 votes over Congress’s Ramesh Chavda after 18 rounds. AAP’s candidate is in a distant third. The bypoll was necessitated by the passing of sitting BJP MLA Karsanbhai Solanki.
The results across the five constituencies signal shifting political trends, with UDF gaining ground in Kerala, AAP showing signs of revival in Gujarat and Punjab, and BJP holding firm in its strongholds.