Assembly bypolls 2025: From Punjab to Kerala, polling underway in these five seats

Voting for by-elections to five assembly constituencies across Gujarat, West Bengal, Punjab and Kerala began on Thursday morning amid tight security arrangements. The votes will be counted on May 23.

 

Here is a quick peek into the seats where polling is being held

I. Kaliganj (West Bengal)

Fourteen companies of central forces have been deployed in Kaliganj where by-election was necessitated by the sudden demise of Trinamool Congress MLA Nasiruddin Ahamed in February. 

Ahamed’s daughter Alifa is the Trinamool Congress nominee.

The BJP has fielded Ashis Ghosh as its candidate, while the Congress nominee Kabil Uddin Shaikh has got the support of the CPI(M).

What dominated electoral discourse: Identity politics, post-Murshidabad riot anxieties and a nationalist surge after Operation Sindoor

II. Ludhiana West (Punajb)

Polling for the Ludhiana West bypoll will be held from 7 am till 6 pm on Thursday and the counting will be held on June 23.

The seat fell vacant following the death of AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi in January. The party has fielded Rajya Sabha member Sanjeev Arora for the bypoll.

The BJP has field party's senior leader Jiwan Gupta while the SAD named Parupkar Singh Ghuman as its candidate for the bypoll.

III. Nilambur (Kerala)

Polling for Nilambur bypolls begins at 7 am amidst tight security arrangements, including the deployment of central security forces and police.

The key contenders are ruling LDF pick M Swaraj, Aryadan Shoukath (Congress-led UDF), Trinamool Congress state convener and independent candidate P V Anvar and Mohan George of the BJP-led NDA.

The by-election was necessitated after Anvar resigned as MLA of the constituency following his severing of ties with the CPI(M)-led LDF over certain allegations by him against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his close aides.

IV. Visavadar (Gujarat)

The Visavadar seat in Junagadh district has been lying vacant since December 2023, after the then AAP legislator Bhupendra Bhayani resigned and joined the ruling BJP.

While the BJP has nominated Kirit Patel for the bypoll in Visavadar, Congress has fielded Nitin Ranpariya. AAP's former Gujarat president Gopal Italia is also in the fray.

The BJP hasn't won the Vasavadar seat since 2007 though party leaders said they are hopeful of overcoming the 18-year jinx here. 

V. Kadi (Gujarat)

The Kadi seat in Mehsana district, a constituency reserved for Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates, has been lying vacant since February 4, following the death of BJP MLA Karsan Solanki.

The BJP has fielded Rajendra Chavda from Kadi, while the Congress has given ticket to Ramesh Chavda, a former MLA. Ramesh Chavda won the seat in 2012, but lost it to BJP's Karsanbhai Solanki in 2017.

India