Nilambur, Kerala — Bollywood Meets Ballot
Forget “Election Commission,” this felt more like a Malayalam political thriller.
What Happened?
- Trigger: CPI(M) backed MLA P.V. Anvar quit the seat in January 2025.
- Contenders:
- UDF: Aryadan Shoukath (Congress), a filmmaker-politician. Drama runs in the family.
- LDF: M. Swaraj, young blood from CPI(M).
- NDA/BJP: Mohan George — Christian lawyer, new convert from Kerala Congress.
- Wildcard: Anvar himself, now backed by TMC.
Result Recap:
- Winner: Aryadan Shoukath (UDF)
- Lead: Over 35,000 votes
- Turnout: ~76%, highest among all 5 bypolls.
The Twist:
- Anvar’s emotional breakdown on camera, calling Congress leaders “ungrateful,” got more views than some reality shows.
- BJP tried its best to penetrate the Christian belt — came in distant third but claimed a “vote share boost.”
Congress is flexing muscles in Kerala again. LDF’s “communal card” didn’t work, and pension politics backfired. This win may fuel UDF’s engine for the 2026 Assembly elections.
Gujarat’s Double Dhamaka — Visavadar & Kadi
Modi’s home turf never disappoints when it comes to loyal returns.
Visavadar
- Why Vacant? AAP’s Bhupendra Bhayani defected to BJP. (Yes, again. Surprise level: zero.)
- Result:
- Winner: Kirit Patel (BJP)
- Lead: ~13,000 votes
- Losers: AAP’s Gopal Italia & Congress’ Nitin Ranpariya.
Gopal Italia once had the internet in love with his “Tea Seller” speech. This time, the audience didn’t clap.
Kadi (SC seat)
- Why Vacant? BJP MLA Karshan Solanki passed away.
- Result:
- Winner: Rajendra Chavda (BJP)
- Lead: Nearly 13,200 votes
- Opposition: Congress & AAP failed to gain ground in this reserved seat.
Message to rivals: Gujarat voters don’t cheat on old friends.
Kaliganj, West Bengal — TMC’s Dynastic Card Works (Again)
What Happened:
- Reason: TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed passed away.
- Daughter Alifa Ahmed was fielded by TMC. Emotional appeal + strong campaign = winning formula.
Result:
- Winner: Alifa Ahmed (TMC)
- Lead: ~7,500 votes
- Opponents: Congress-Left’s Kabil Uddin Sheikh & BJP’s Ashish Ghosh.
Highlight: Even without Mamata’s magic in person, the TMC pulled it off. Family brand intact.
Ludhiana West, Punjab — AAP’s Clean Sweep Continues
You may not notice it on national media, but AAP’s grassroots grip in Punjab is solid.
What Happened:
- Vacancy: AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi’s death.
- AAP Fielded: Sanjeev Arora
- Others: Congress’s Bharat Bhushan Ashu, BJP’s Jiwan Gupta, SAD’s Parupkar Singh Ghumman
Result:
- Winner: AAP’s Sanjeev Arora
- Lead: ~5,000 votes
- Turnout: Lowest among all (~51.3%)
Mood: Quiet victory, low drama, big statement: “We’re still here, folks.”
| Constituency | Winner (Party) | Lead | Runner-Up | Turnout (%) | Key Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nilambur (Kerala) | Aryadan Shoukath (UDF) | ~35,000 | M. Swaraj (LDF) | 76% | Congress comeback in South |
| Visavadar (Gujarat) | Kirit Patel (BJP) | ~13,000 | Gopal Italia (AAP) | 56.9% | BJP unshaken despite defections |
| Kadi (SC, Gujarat) | Rajendra Chavda (BJP) | ~13,200 | Ramesh Chavda (Cong) | 57.9% | Reserved seats still BJP fortress |
| Kaliganj (WB) | Alifa Ahmed (TMC) | ~7,500 | Congress-Left | 69.8% | Dynastic card + minority base holds |
| Ludhiana West (PB) | Sanjeev Arora (AAP) | ~5,000 | BJP & Cong | 51.3% | AAP’s Punjab dominance continues |
Who Should Worry?
- LDF: Lost a traditional stronghold in Kerala. Not a great sign ahead of 2026.
- Congress (Gujarat/Punjab): No traction. No storyline.
- AAP (Nationally): Still strong in Punjab, but outside Delhi & Punjab — results were cold.
- BJP (South): Presence in Kerala still symbolic. Christian outreach needs a reboot.
And Finally… Let’s Rate the Bypolls!
| Category | Winner | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Drama | Kerala | Anvar’s monologues > Most Netflix shows |
| Turnout King | Nilambur | 76% — wow! Voters actually showed up! |
| Quiet Assassin | AAP in Punjab | Won without fanfare |
| Loyalty Trophy | Gujarat to BJP | Voters: “Why fix what’s not broken?” |
| Dynasty of the Day | TMC in Bengal | Father’s legacy, daughter’s victory |
Bypolls are small in number, but loud in signal. In this 5-state sample, India showed it still votes with emotion, legacy, anger, and chai-fueled conversations.
