The results of the much-anticipated 2025 Assembly by-elections across four states delivered major wins for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Congress, and Trinamool Congress (TMC), while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) retained its hold in Gujarat’s Kadi seat. The results come as a political pulse check ahead of key Assembly elections due next year.
Gujarat: Gopal Italia Returns With a Bang
In a remarkable political comeback, former Gujarat AAP president Gopal Italia won the Visavadar Assembly seat by a margin of 17,554 votes, securing 75,942 votes. Italia’s victory is being seen as a major boost for AAP after his 2022 defeat in Katargam. BJP’s Kirit Patel came second with 58,388 votes, while Congress' Nitin Ranpariya secured only 5,501 votes, finishing a distant third.
Meanwhile, in Kadi, the BJP registered a comfortable win as Rajendra Kumar Daneshwar Chavda defeated Congress’ Rameshbhai Chavda by a massive 39,452-vote margin, reinforcing the party’s traditional base in the region.
Kerala: Congress Reclaims Nilambur
In Kerala’s Nilambur, Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath emerged victorious with 77,737 votes, leading by 11,077 votes over CPI(M)'s M. Swaraj, who managed 66,660 votes. Independent P.V. Anvar, who triggered the by-election by resigning, garnered 19,760 votes, while BJP’s Mohan George trailed with 8,648. The win is seen as a direct blow to the ruling LDF and a symbolic victory for the Congress ahead of the 2026 state elections.
West Bengal: TMC Dominates Kaliganj
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) appears set for a sweeping win in West Bengal’s Kaliganj constituency. After 12 rounds of counting, TMC’s Alifa Ahmed had secured 56,404 votes, taking a comfortable lead of 30,967 votes over BJP’s Ashish Ghosh (25,437 votes). Congress’ Kabil Uddin Shaikh, backed by the Left Front, followed with 18,770 votes.
Punjab: AAP Maintains Edge
In Punjab’s Ludhiana West, AAP’s Sanjeev Arora continues to lead, ahead of Congress’ Bharat Bhushan Ashu, while BJP’s Jiwan Gupta trails in third. The final result was awaited at the time of filing this report, but AAP workers in the constituency have already begun celebrating an anticipated win.
