Lucknow: As the counting of votes continues for the five vacant Assembly seats across four Indian states—Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, and West Bengal—initial trends are indicating fierce contests and significant political shifts.
The bypolls were conducted for Visavadar and Kadi (SC) seats in Gujarat, Nilambur in Kerala, Ludhiana West in Punjab, and Kaliaganj in West Bengal. According to the Election Commission, vote counting began early this morning at various centers under stringent security and transparency protocols. EVMs have been kept under multi-layered protection to ensure impartiality in the process.
Gujarat and Punjab: AAP and BJP Lead Early Rounds
Early vote count data has kept political circles abuzz, with neck-and-neck battles unfolding. In Gujarat’s Kadi (SC) constituency, BJP candidate Rajendrakumar (Rajubhai) Daneshwar Chawda is leading against his closest rival. This indicates continued strong support for the BJP in reserved constituencies.
In contrast, the Visavadar seat is witnessing a surprise surge for the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), where candidate Gopal Italia is ahead, hinting at the party’s growing traction in the Saurashtra region.
In Punjab’s Ludhiana West, AAP is showing strength yet again with Sanjeev Arora leading the tally. The low voter turnout of 51.33% in this seat hasn’t stopped the party from securing an early lead, a sign of its increasing grassroots connect in the region.
Kerala and West Bengal: Congress and TMC Hold Ground
In Kerala’s Nilambur constituency, which recorded the highest turnout at 73.26%, Indian National Congress candidate Aryadan Shaukat is leading. This is being seen as a symbolic revival for the Congress in the southern state, especially after a period of electoral dormancy.
Meanwhile, in West Bengal’s Kaliaganj seat, All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Alifa Ahmed has taken a narrow lead. The early trend points toward TMC maintaining its dominance in its traditional strongholds amid rising opposition pressures.
The Election Commission is continuously updating the results on its official website, ensuring that the public can follow real-time developments.
Awaiting Final Verdict: A Semi-Final for State Politics?
Though these are by-elections, political observers are closely monitoring the outcome for its larger implications. The early leads by AAP in Punjab and Gujarat, Congress in Kerala, and TMC in West Bengal reflect strong regional undercurrents.
These bypolls are being viewed as a litmus test ahead of full-fledged assembly elections, and in many ways, a semi-final to gauge public sentiment. The final results will not only decide the fate of five Assembly seats but also offer a preview into how regional equations and national strategies may evolve in the coming months.
As the day progresses, the complete picture will emerge—but the trends so far already hint at an evolving political landscape across India’s key states.
