Trinamool, Congress, and AAP Register Key Gains in Bypolls Across India; Bengal, Kerala, Gujarat See Political Realignments
In a series of high-stakes by-elections held across multiple states, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, the Congress party in Kerala, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Gujarat and Punjab have each secured significant victories or held crucial leads—indicating regional strengths and shifting political dynamics as the nation moves closer to the 2026 Assembly elections.
Trinamool Congress Retains Kaliganj, Bengal
In West Bengal, the TMC continued its electoral dominance by successfully retaining the Kaliganj Assembly seat in Nadia district. The bypoll was necessitated by the demise of sitting TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed, and the party fielded Alifa Ahmed as its candidate.
After 14 rounds of counting, according to the Election Commission of India, Alifa Ahmed surged ahead with a lead of over 33,000 votes, comfortably outpacing the BJP’s Ashish Ghosh and Congress candidate Kabiluddin Shaikh. The decisive margin reaffirmed the TMC’s enduring grassroots appeal in the region.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), expressed heartfelt gratitude to the electorate:
“People from all castes, creed, and religion have blessed us in the Kaliganj Assembly by-election. With a bowed head, I express my deepest gratitude. This victory belongs to the people. My colleagues in Kaliganj worked tirelessly, and I congratulate them for this well-deserved success.”
Despite being a bypoll, the contest in Kaliganj was closely watched, given Bengal’s history of volatile political competition and the state’s looming 2026 Assembly elections. The TMC’s comfortable victory will be seen as a morale booster amid intensifying opposition efforts to consolidate support across the state.
Congress Makes Strategic Comeback in Kerala’s Nilambur
In Kerala, the Congress party, representing the United Democratic Front (UDF), registered a significant victory in the Nilambur Assembly constituency, part of the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat represented by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
Congress candidate Aryadhan Shoukath—son of veteran Congress leader Aryadan Mohammed, who was an eight-time MLA from Nilambur—was leading by over 11,000 votes ahead of CPM’s M. Swaraj, while former MLA P.V. Anvar, contesting as an Independent, trailed behind both.
Shoukath’s win is particularly symbolic, reaffirming the Congress’s relevance in a state where it faces intense competition from both the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and a rising BJP attempting to gain a foothold in southern India.
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, expressing gratitude after the likely win, attributed the success to collective effort:
“We worked as a team, each one with commitment and a single-pointed focus. That is the most important lesson of this success.”
She added that the voters’ trust in constitutional values and the UDF’s progressive vision would guide their path forward.
Interestingly, P.V. Anvar, who had previously won the seat in 2021 as an Independent backed by the Left, resigned over ideological differences with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, later joining the Trinamool Congress. His performance in the bypoll was dismal, reflecting a decline in personal influence and the electorate’s preference for more established parties.
Gujarat Sees Mixed Results: AAP Upsets BJP in Visavadar, BJP Retains Kadi
In Gujarat, the Aam Aadmi Party pulled off a notable upset in the Visavadar Assembly constituency, where Italia Gopal defeated the BJP’s Kirit Patel by a margin of 17,554 votes. The seat had been one of AAP’s rare victories in the 2022 Assembly elections. The previous MLA, Bhupendra Bhayani, had defected to the BJP, triggering the by-election. Gopal’s win marks a reaffirmation of voter trust in AAP’s governance promise and grassroots engagement in the region.
However, the BJP managed to retain the Kadi Assembly seat, where the bypoll was held following the death of its sitting MLA Karshan Solanki. The ruling party’s ability to hold onto the seat indicates that its core voter base in northern Gujarat remains largely intact, despite challenges in some constituencies.
Punjab: AAP Gains Ground in Ludhiana West
Up north in Punjab, AAP’s Sanjeev Arora was leading comfortably from the Ludhiana West Assembly seat, defeating Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu by a margin of over 10,000 votes. This lead is a significant development for AAP, which has been aiming to strengthen its position in urban pockets of Punjab amid mixed reviews of its governance since coming to power in 2022.
Implications Ahead of 2026 Elections
While the bypolls were localized in nature, the outcomes offer telling insights into India’s evolving political landscape:
- TMC’s continued dominance in Bengal signals a formidable challenge for the opposition in the state.
- Congress’s revival in Kerala shows potential for the UDF to stage a comeback, especially with the visible influence of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra.
- AAP’s resilience in Gujarat and Punjab indicates its growing footprint beyond Delhi, with the potential to influence future electoral equations.
As the 2026 Assembly elections in West Bengal and Kerala draw closer, these bypolls serve as mini-referendums, showcasing voter sentiment and shaping future campaign narratives.
In the grand mosaic of Indian democracy, even small contests reflect larger undercurrents—and this round of bypolls has made it clear that every region is watching, responding, and readying itself for the battles ahead.
