Bypolls on five seats underway.
Photo : PTI
The victory of Priyanka Gandhi from Wayanad was a big confidence booster for Congress, which is in power in less number of states.
Rocked by violence, politics and cases in the recent months, Bengal’s Kaliganj seat is the first to witness elections after these developments. Congress-Left alliance, the BJP and TMC are contesting a high-stakes battle for the seat.
BJP is banking on its campaign against the ruling TMC based on the Murshidabad violence, SSC recruitment scam and other key issues.
The identity and legacy remain central to the electoral battle on the seat. While the TMC has accused the BJP of communal polarisation, the Murshidabad riots and sporadic communal clashes in parts of the state have only added fuel to the saffron party’s campaign.
The Ludhiana West by-election is a crucial test for the ruling AAP, which has been in trouble since its dismal performance in the Delhi assembly elections earlier this year. Punjab is the only state the party governs and hence, the victory is important to establish its dominance in the state.
The by-election was necessitated after the death of ruling AAP MLA, Gurpreet Bassi Gogi, in January. Congress is aiming to get some ground back by winning the seat it has won six times in the past.
Still, the main contest is between the AAP and BJP. For the saffron party, the victory becomes important as it would show its hold despite the break-up with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
For the SAD, the bypoll is being viewed as a test of leadership for party president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Visavadar and Kadi In Gujarat See 3-Cornered Fight
The Visavadar seat in Junagadh fell vacant after former AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani defected to the BJP in December 2023. The saffron party fielded high high-profile candidate – Kirit Patel, while Congress named Nitin Ranpariya. The AAP nominated its former Gujarat president, Gopal Italia, making the battle a high-stakes one.
The Kadi (Mehsana district) seat is reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates and went vacant after BJP MLA Karsan Solanki’s death in February. Rajendra Chavda is leading the charge for the BJP, while Congress has turned to Ramesh Chavda, a former MLA who won the seat in 2012. AAP has pinned its hopes on Jagdish Chavda.
Due to the bypolls, the Gujarat government has declared a public holiday in both constituencies to encourage voters.
