AAP Shakes Up Gujarat: Bypolls Signal Political Shifts

In recent bypolls across four states, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed victories in Gujarat and Punjab, while the Congress-led UDF took the Nilambur seat in Kerala. The contests have reflected significant shifts in voter sentiment, with the BJP retaining a stronghold in Gujarat's Kadi seat.

In a remarkable political development, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured a crucial win in Gujarat's Visavadar assembly constituency. Gopal Italia, AAP's former state president, defeated BJP rival Kirit Patel by 17,554 votes, signaling the party's growing influence in a region dominated by BJP since 2007. The bypolls on June 19 marked a shift in Gujarat's political landscape.

Meanwhile, AAP successfully retained Punjab's Ludhiana West seat, with candidate Sanjeev Arora triumphing over Congress' Bharat Bhushan Ashu by 10,637 votes. The win further cements AAP's position in Punjab amid declining support for traditional parties like Congress and BJP, as noted by AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal.

In Kerala, the Congress-led UDF achieved a significant victory by wresting the Nilambur seat from the ruling LDF, represented by Aryadan Shoukath. This defeat marked the fourth such bypoll loss for the LDF government under Pinarayi Vijayan's leadership, highlighting political challenges ahead for the Left in Kerala. The Trinamool Congress continued its dominance in West Bengal by leading the Kaliganj constituency, solidifying its electoral strength in the state.

(With inputs from agencies.)