Bypolls 2025 Live: Moderate Turnout in Bypolls Across Four States; Voting Peaceful with Isolated Tensions
Stay tuned for Assembly Bypolls 2025 live updates as voting takes place in Punjab, Bengal, Gujarat, and Kerala. Get real-time coverage of key contests, voter turnout.
LIVE
Background
Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Kerala—are heading to the polls today, Thursday, June 19, to elect new representatives in five Assembly constituencies. These crucial byelections come just weeks after the Lok Sabha results and are being seen as a litmus test for regional alliances and party influence ahead of future political showdowns. Counting of votes is scheduled for June 23.
Punjab: Ludhiana West Set for a Fierce Face-Off
In Punjab’s Ludhiana West, a high-voltage contest is underway between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Congress, with the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also in the fray. The seat became vacant after the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi earlier this year.
AAP has put forward industrialist-turned-Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, while Congress has fielded veteran leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu, a two-time MLA from the same seat. BJP’s Jiwan Gupta and SAD’s Parupkar Singh Ghuman round out the key contenders.
AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal has promised cabinet induction for Arora if he wins, calling the election a chance for “unparalleled development.” Meanwhile, Ashu has turned his campaign into a direct attack on Kejriwal, alleging a backdoor Rajya Sabha agenda.
The constituency has over 1.75 lakh voters, including 85,371 women and 10 third-gender voters. Security is tight, with real-time monitoring and full webcasting across 194 polling stations.
West Bengal: Kaliganj Bypoll Heats Up Amid Communal Tensions
In Kaliganj, West Bengal, the TMC, BJP, and Congress-Left alliance are locked in a triangular contest. The seat fell vacant after the death of TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed. His daughter, Alifa Ahmed, is now contesting on a TMC ticket.
BJP’s Ashis Ghosh and Congress-backed Kabil Uddin Sheikh are also in the race. Recent communal unrest in Murshidabad and the nationalist fervor following Operation Sindoor have intensified voter sentiment in this minority-dominated constituency.
Gujarat: AAP, BJP, and Congress Vie for Ground in Visavadar and Kadi
In Gujarat, two key bypolls are underway in Visavadar and Kadi. Visavadar sees a three-way clash between BJP’s Kirit Patel, Congress’s Nitin Ranpariya, and AAP’s Gopal Italia. The seat was vacated after AAP’s Bhupendra Bhayani switched sides to the BJP.
Kadi, a reserved seat, became vacant following BJP MLA Karsan Solanki’s death. BJP’s Rajendra Chavda, Congress’s Ramesh Chavda, and AAP’s Jagdish Chavda are contesting. Voting is taking place at 294 booths in each seat, with a public holiday declared to encourage turnout.
Kerala: Nilambur Contest Turns Four-Way Amid Controversy
In Kerala’s Nilambur, the fallout between CPI(M) and its former ally P V Anvar has sparked a four-way battle. Congress has fielded Aryadan Shoukath, while CPI(M) is backing M Swaraj. The BJP and Trinamool Congress are also contesting, with Anvar running as the latter’s state convenor.
By Polls 2025 Live: Moderate Turnout in Bypolls Across Four States; Voting Peaceful with Isolated Tensions
Moderate turnout marked bypolls in five assembly seats across Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Kerala. Voting began at 7 a.m., with incidents of tension in West Bengal. Key contests and political stakes remain high ahead of June 23 results.
By Polls 2025: Tribal Voters Cross Chaliyar River to Cast Ballots at High-Security Forest Booth
Tribespeople from the remote hamlets of Vaniyampuzha and Iruttukuthy made their way across the Chaliyar river on Thursday to exercise their franchise at a high-security polling booth set up at the Vaniyampuzha forest station. Despite the challenging terrain and isolation of these settlements, residents turned out in significant numbers, reflecting their commitment to the democratic process.
Top Headlines
