Assembly Bypolls 2025 — The polling for five assembly seats across four states — Gujarat, Punjab, Kerala, and West Bengal — began early Wednesday morning, marking an important chapter in the country’s electoral landscape. The bypolls, seen as a barometer for state and national politics, will conclude later today, with results announced on June 23.
Constituencies Going to Poll
The five seats contested are:
- Gujarat: Visavadar and Kadi (SC)
- Punjab: Ludhiana West
- Kerala: Nilambur
- West Bengal: Kaliganj
Each of these bypolls has drawn significant attention due to its political implications and the high-profile candidates in the fray.
Strong Voter Turnout So Far
As of mid-day, polling percentages were impressive across the constituencies:
- Kaliganj, West Bengal: Around 70% by 5 PM
- Nilambur, Kerala: Approximately 60% by early afternoon
- Ludhiana West, Punjab: Nearly 50% by 3 PM
- Visavadar, Gujarat: Around 55% by early afternoon
- Kadi, Gujarat: Approximately 57% by early afternoon
The strong turnout is indicative of active political engagement and mobilization by parties across these regions.
The Gujarat Contests
Visavadar
Visavadar is seeing a multi-cornered contest. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Kirit Patel, while the Congress is relying on Nitin Ranpariya. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has put forth Gopal Italia, a former state president. Visavadar has long been a challenging seat for the BJP, which hasn’t claimed victory here since 2007.
Kadi
In Kadi, an SC-reserved seat, Rajendra Chavda of the BJP is challenging the Congress candidate Ramesh Chavda and AAP candidate Jagdish Chavda. The bypoll here is seen as a test for BJP’s efforts to consolidate its base in rural Gujarat.
Ludhiana West: A Crucial Battle in Punjab
Ludhiana West has become the focus of a keen contest. The seat fell vacant following the death of Aam Aadmi Party MLA Gurpreet Gogi. This bypoll will be a litmus test for AAP’s growing stronghold in Punjab. Its candidate is pitted against strong contenders from the Congress and the BJP.
Nilambur: High Stakes in Kerala
In Kerala, the Nilambur seat became vacant after PV Anvar vacated it upon election to the Lok Sabha. Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate M. Swaraj is competing against United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Aryadan Shoukath and BJP candidate Mohan George. Nilambur has long been a stronghold of the Left, making this bypoll a crucial test of its resilience.
Kaliganj: The Political Temperature in West Bengal
The Kaliganj seat, located in Nadia district, became vacant following the death of Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed. The TMC has nominated Alifa Ahmed, Nasiruddin’s daughter, hoping for a sympathy wave. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fielded Ashis Ghosh, while the Congress-CPI(M) alliance has put forth Kabil Uddin Shaikh.
With a turnout nearing 70%, the contest in Kaliganj is being watched closely as an indicator of rural Bengal’s political sentiment.
Assembly Bypolls 2025: Significance of These Bypolls
These bypolls hold considerable political weight for both national and state parties:
- In Gujarat, the BJP aims to consolidate its rural stronghold and secure long-untapped seats like Visavadar.
- In Punjab, AAP aims to reaffirm its dominance in Ludhiana West.
- In Kerala, the Left is fighting to maintain its stronghold in Nilambur, making the results significant for its state-level prospects.
- In West Bengal, the ruling TMC strives to retain its dominance in rural areas, with Kaliganj as a litmus test.
High-Tech Monitoring and Peaceful Polling
The Election Commission has implemented a range of measures to ensure fair and seamless polling. Nearly all booths across these constituencies are being monitored through live webcasting. In a first, mobile phones were collected from voters at entry points in certain areas, making the process more secure and reducing the risk of malpractice.
Security arrangements were stringent across all four states, making sure the polling remained largely incident-free.
Results Will Decide Political Narratives
With polling drawing to a close, all eyes now turn to the results, set to be announced on June 23, 2025. These outcomes will set the tone for the next phase of state and national politics, shaping alliances, policies, and the overall political landscape of the regions.
Final Thoughts
The June 19 bypolls are more than routine exercises in democracy. They are a pivotal measure of the pulse of the people in four diverse states and could signal critical shifts in regional and national politics. The strong turnout and competitive races underline the vibrancy of India’s democratic process.
As the results approach, the nation watches closely to understand the evolving political narratives that will define the coming months and years.
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Election Commission of India (ECI): https://eci.gov.in/
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Gujarat State Election Commission: https://sec.gujarat.gov.in/
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Punjab State Election Commission: https://www.secpunjab.gov.in/
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Kerala State Election Commission: https://www.lsgelection.kerala.gov.in/
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West Bengal State Election Commission: http://wbsec.gov.in/
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