Ludhiana, 23 June

In a significant political turn after its recent defeat in Delhi, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) bounced back with impressive victories in the Assembly bypolls, winning seats in Punjab’s Ludhiana West and Gujarat’s Visavadar. The results mark a morale boost for the party ahead of crucial state elections, especially in Punjab where the next Assembly polls are less than two years away.

In Ludhiana West, AAP pulled out all the stops with top leaders like Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Atishi actively campaigning for candidate Madan Lal Bagga. Kejriwal himself oversaw much of the campaign, signaling the high stakes involved for the party.

Meanwhile, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) scored a decisive win in Kerala’s Nilambur. The bypoll held particular significance as the Nilambur seat falls under the Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency, currently represented by Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi, making it a prestige battle for the party.

The BJP, despite contesting all five bypoll seats across four states, could only manage a win in Gujarat’s Kadi (SC) seat. This underwhelming performance comes amid rising pressure on the party from opposition alliances ahead of key state elections in 2026.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) retained its hold on the Kaliganj seat in West Bengal, with candidate Alifa Ahamed winning by a significant margin. The victory strengthens TMC’s presence in the region as the state heads toward elections next year.

Overall, the bypolls were viewed as a crucial test for the BJP and the opposition INDIA bloc, especially in politically sensitive states like West Bengal and Kerala. The results indicate shifting ground and renewed energy for parties like AAP and Congress, even as the BJP grapples with retaining dominance beyond its strongholds.