In a surprising turn during the recent Assembly bypolls, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress delivered major upsets to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), signaling growing momentum for the opposition ahead of high-stakes elections in Bihar and West Bengal later this year.
Out of the five seats contested, the BJP managed to win just one, while the AAP and Congress each secured significant victories that could reshape the political dynamics heading into 2026.
🔹 AAP’s Comeback in Gujarat: Visavadar Victory
In Gujarat’s Visavadar, AAP made a powerful comeback. After losing ground earlier this year in the Delhi Assembly elections, this win has re-energized Arvind Kejriwal’s party.
Gopal Italia of AAP clinched the seat by a margin of over 17,500 votes, defeating BJP’s Kirit Patel. This seat, once held by AAP in 2022, had been vacated by Bhupendra Bhayani—a former AAP MLA who defected to the BJP, only to not contest this bypoll.
State AAP chief Isudan Gadhvi celebrated the win with a bold statement:
“If anyone can defeat the BJP in Gujarat, it’s AAP. We are coming for 2027.”
In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF reclaimed the Nilambur seat, marking a key victory ahead of next year’s state polls.
Aryadan Shoukath, son of veteran Congress leader Aryadan Mohammad, defeated CPI(M)’s M Swaraj by more than 11,000 votes. This seat had been previously held by independent MLA PV Anvar, who vacated it after aligning with the Trinamool Congress.
Nilambur falls under the Wayanad parliamentary constituency—currently represented by Priyanka Gandhi—making this win politically symbolic for Congress’s future in the state.
🔹 Trinamool Set to Retain Kaliganj in West Bengal
In Kaliganj, West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) maintained a strong lead, with Alifa Ahmed—daughter of the late MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed—poised for victory.
By 3:45 PM, Alifa was ahead of BJP’s Ashish Ghosh by over 50,000 votes, securing a landslide win in a Muslim-majority constituency.
This result strengthens TMC’s grip as they prepare to face the BJP in the crucial 2026 Assembly elections.
🔹 AAP Holds Fort in Punjab’s Ludhiana West
The AAP also held on to the Ludhiana West seat in Punjab, fending off a strong challenge from the Congress. Sanjay Arora emerged victorious by over 10,000 votes, defeating Bharat Ashu.
Backed by a high-voltage campaign featuring Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, this win cements AAP’s presence in Punjab, even as tensions within the INDIA bloc surface.
🔹 BJP Retains Kadi in Gujarat
The BJP’s sole win came from Kadi, Gujarat, where Rajendra Chavda comfortably beat Congress’ Ramesh Chavda by almost 40,000 votes.
This seat has been a BJP stronghold since 2017 and remains with the party despite growing opposition momentum.
🗳️ What These Results Mean Ahead of Bihar & Bengal Elections
These bypoll results are more than just local victories—they offer a preview of national sentiment. The BJP’s underwhelming performance signals potential trouble in its strongholds, while the AAP, Congress, and Trinamool look poised to challenge the ruling party in the upcoming Bihar and West Bengal elections.
With the INDIA bloc showing mixed unity and individual parties gaining strength, the road to 2026 is heating up.
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