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News18
25-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
Bypoll Results: Teen Killed In Blast At TMC's Victory Rally; AAP Wins 2 Seats, Congress And BJP Get 1 Each
Last Updated: The AAP, smarting from recent reverses in Delhi, won two out of the five bypolls in assembly seats – one in Gujarat and the other in Punjab, where it is the ruling party A 13-year-old girl was killed on Monday in a blast that ripped through a TMC procession in West Bengal as the Mamata Banerjee-led party revelled in its resounding victory on the Kaliganj assembly seat. Bypoll results, however, gave a much-needed fillip to the AAP as it won two seats even as the BJP and Congress both featured in single wins. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), smarting from recent reverses in Delhi and the Arvind Kejriwal conundrum, won two out of the five bypolls in assembly seats – one in Gujarat and the other in Punjab, where it is the ruling party. The Congress, meanwhile, got a welcome boost by winning a seat in Kerala ahead of the assembly elections in the southern state next year. The BJP, meanwhile, won a single seat in Gujarat and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) managed to retain the seat in West Bengal. But, there were setbacks too. The Congress, which is seeking to strengthen the organisation in Gujarat by appointing new district party chiefs, suffered a setback with state party president Shaktisinh Gohil stepping down, taking moral responsibility for the loss on the two seats. WHO WON? In Gujarat, the BJP's Rajendra Chavda won the Kadi seat while AAP's former state unit chief Gopal Italia emerged victorious in Visavadar after the results were declared. In West Bengal, the TMC registered a landslide victory in the Kaliganj assembly seat as Alifa Ahmed defeated her BJP opponent while Aryadan Shoukath helped the Congress-led UDF in wresting the Nilambur seat from the ruling LDF in Kerala. AAP RETAINS SEATS IN PUNJAB AND GUJARAT Buoyed by the victory of the AAP candidates in Punjab and Gujarat, Kejriwal used the opportunity to woo the Congress workers and voters, saying it is only his party that can defeat the BJP as the Congress cannot. He alleged that the Congress top brass is 'hand in glove" with the BJP, claiming they fought the 'bypolls together and worked to help ensure BJP's victory". 'Some people say this is the semi-final to 2027. We can think that if this is the semi-final and 2022 was a storm, then there will be a typhoon in 2027," Kejriwal told reporters. 'This shows that we are doing good work in Punjab…a huge margin win, the people of Punjab have given their stamp of approval on AAP's work in the state." Both Gujarat and Punjab will face assembly elections in 2027. He said the ruling party often wins bypolls, but AAP's victory in Gujarat shows people are fed up with 30 years of BJP rule. 'They now see AAP as a credible alternative," he noted. 'These bypolls showed how Congress leadership helped BJP just to defeat AAP. Congress has become the kathputli (puppet) of the BJP. I request Congress workers to realise this and join the AAP." WEST BENGAL The TMC retained the Kaliganj assembly seat in West Bengal as party candidate Alifa Ahmed registered a landslide victory by a margin of 50,049 votes against BJP's Ashish Ghosh. The party said this was due to 'people's love" and their faith in Mamata Banerjee's development politics. In a post on X, TMC leader Derek O'Brien said since the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, his party has won all 11 bypolls held in the state with a vote share higher than that registered in the general elections. The BJP claimed that it received its highest-ever share of Hindu votes in the Kaliganj constituency due to a rising 'Hindutva consciousness" and backlash against Murshidabad riots and the next assembly election will be a 'full-blown revolution". Calling the election results long before the final figures were in, Banerjee congratulated the people of Kaliganj and expressed her gratitude to them. 'People of all religions, castes, races and walks of life in the area have blessed us immensely by exercising their right to vote in the by-elections to the Kaliganj Assembly constituency. I humbly express my gratitude to them. The main architects of this victory are 'Maa, Mati, and Manush'. My colleagues from Kaliganj have worked tirelessly for this. I also extend my heartfelt congratulations to them. My greetings and salutations to everyone," she said in a post on her X handle. She added: 'Remembering the late MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed, I dedicate this victory to the motherland and people of Bengal." KERALA After Aryadan Shoukath's win over CPI(M) state secretariat member M Swaraj in Kerala, Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said working as a team, with pointed focus, is the most important lesson of success. Shoukath said the outcome was expected. 'It was a victory anticipated by the people of Kerala — a major win against the LDF government," he said. Swaraj said the LDF will closely examine the results but rejected suggestions of anti-incumbency against the Left government. This is, however, the fourth byelection defeat for the front during the ongoing tenure of the second Pinarayi Vijayan government. It earlier lost in Puthuppally, Palakkad and Thrikkakara assembly segments. BLAST IN BENGAL AFTER BYPOLL RESULTS In an incident of post-poll violence in West Bengal, a 13-year-old girl was killed in a bomb explosion during the TMC's victory procession in Kaliganj police station area. Party workers were celebrating their candidate Alifa Ahmed's landslide victory when the explosion happened. The West Bengal police said the girl succumbed to her injuries sustained from the blast. They said the police are conducting raids to nab the culprits. 'Today, a 13-year-old girl succumbed to her injuries sustained from an explosion in the Kaliganj PS area of Krishnanagar police district. We shall spare no stone unturned to nab the culprits who were behind the incident. Raids are on in full swing to arrest those responsible for this extremely unfortunate death," the police said. Banerjee expressed shock over the incident and directed police to 'take strong and decisive legal action". 'I am shocked and deeply saddened at the death of a young girl in an explosion at Barochandgar in Krishnanagar police district. My prayers and thoughts are with the family in their hour of grief. Police shall take strong and decisive legal action against the culprits at the earliest," she wrote on X. BJP AND 18-YEAR JINX IN GUJARAT The ruling BJP in Gujarat was unable to end its 18-year jinx in Visavadar, losing to the AAP despite a strong campaign. In Kadi seat of Mehsana district, reserved for Scheduled Caste candidates, Rajendra Chavda emerged victorious by a margin of 39,452 votes over Ramesh Chavda of the Congress. The BJP leaders said it was hoping to break the 18-year jinx in Visavadar, where the party last tasted victory in 2007. After his victory, Italia said the BJP failed to win despite putting all its efforts in Visavadar, a seat once represented by former Gujarat chief minister Keshubhai Patel. top videos View all Gujarat BJP spokesperson Yagnesh Dave said his party failed to convince Visavadar's voters. The BJP accepts the people's mandate and will try to win in the 2027 assembly elections, he said. (With PTI inputs) About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk More Get Latest Updates on Movies, Breaking News On India, World, Live Cricket Scores, And Stock Market Updates. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : aam aadmi party bypolls Location : New Delhi, India, India First Published: June 23, 2025, 21:44 IST News elections Bypoll Results: Teen Killed In Blast At TMC's Victory Rally; AAP Wins 2 Seats, Congress And BJP Get 1 Each
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
TMC wins Kaliganj bypoll; Congress-CPIM alliance and BJP see decrease in vote-share
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) secured a decisive victory in the Kaliganj Assembly bypoll, with party candidate Alifa Ahmed winning by a significant margin. The BJP's Ashish Ghosh came second, while Congress candidate Kabiluddin Sheikh finished third. As of the 23rd round of counting, it was seen that both the BJP and CPIM-Congress alliance's vote shares had slightly decreased from the Lok Sabha elections in 2024. TMC received around 55 percent of the vote share for the bypoll, followed by the BJP with 28 percent and the Congress with 15 percent. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the TMC got 47.08 percent, BJP got 31.67 percent and Congress-CPIM got 18.47 percent of the vote. While the TMC had been confident of retaining the seat, the BJP focused its campaign on consolidating Hindu votes in an area where over 48 percent of the electorate belongs to minority communities. The party had invoked the Centre's Operation Sindoor and criticised what it termed TMC's 'appeasement politics'. Following the result, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her gratitude in a post on social media platform X, saying, 'People of all religions, castes, races, and walks of life in the area have blessed us immensely… I humbly express my gratitude to them… The main architects of this victory are ma-mati-manush (mother, soil, and people)… Remembering the late MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed, I dedicate this victory to the motherland and people of Bengal.' Alifa Ahmed, daughter of the late TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed, said, 'I got blessings from every corner of Kaliganj. I am happy.' Ahmed, 38, is a BTech graduate and works with a prominent IT firm. The seat fell vacant after her father's death in February this year. Nasiruddin Ahmed had won the Kaliganj seat in 2011, lost in 2016, and regained it in 2021. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari commented, 'I don't have the final result yet, but from what I've seen, CPIM-Congress got some support in minority areas. Our goal was to consolidate the Hindu vote, and I believe we were successful in that strategy.'
New Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Class IV girl killed in bomb blast in West Bengal's Kaliganj; CM urges strict police action
KOLKATA: In a post-poll incident in Kaliganj, Nadia district of West Bengal, a Class IV student was killed in a bomb explosion allegedly triggered by Trinamool Congress-backed miscreants. The incident took place shortly before the official announcement of Trinamool Congress candidate Alifa Ahmed's victory in the Kaliganj Assembly bypoll. Tamanna Khatun was on her way home in the Melendi area when splinters from a crude bomb, reportedly hurled during a victory celebration, struck her. She was immediately rushed to a nearby health centre but succumbed to her injuries. 'I was returning home with my son and daughter when a group of people suddenly appeared and hurled a bomb, which killed my daughter,' the mother said. She added, 'We have been voting for the CPM since my father's time. We are not politically active.' West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed deep sorrow over the incident and assured that the police would take strict legal action against those responsible. She extended her condolences to the grieving family and said that the administration would act decisively.
Indian Express
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Takeaways from Bengal bypoll: TMC wins big in Kaliganj, BJP says its strategy was on point
IN A big boost for the ruling Trinamool Congress months ahead of the state elections, the party retained the Kaliganj Assembly seat with a margin of 50,049 votes. While TMC candidate Alifa Ahmed won with around 55% of the votes, the BJP's Ashish Ghosh got half the votes, at 28%. The Congress's Kabiluddin Sheikh was placed third, with about 15.21% of the votes. The takeaways from the election: Beset by several scams, and facing anger over the scrapped teachers' recruitment exercise, the TMC heaved a sigh of relief at not just retaining the seat but also its votes. A senior TMC leader said: 'There was no question that the party would win. Our challenge was to hold peaceful elections, and maintain our lead and vote share, which we have done.' West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee posted on X: 'People of all religions, castes, races and walks of life have blessed us… The main architects of this victory are ma-mati-manush (mother, soil, and people).' She also paid tribute to Nasiruddin Ahmed, the late TMC MLA whose death led to the bypoll. Ahmed's daughter Alifa, a graduate and employee of a prominent IT company, was fielded by the TMC for the bypoll. 'I have got the blessings of every corner of Kaliganj,' the 38-year-old said after her victory. The BJP, which continues its replacement of the Congress and Left as the main Opposition in Bengal, said it was happy with the results as their voting share had increased. A senior BJP leader said, 'Generally, in a bypoll, the ruling party always has an advantage. Moreover, in Kaliganj, almost 48% of the voters are from the minority community. We were not expecting any exceptional results. We only wanted to see if we could consolidate the Hindu votes. In that, we have been successful to an extent.' Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said, 'The CPI(M) and Congress appear to have got some votes in minority areas, but our target was to consolidate the Hindu votes. Hence we concentrated on only 109 booths, where we got a large chunk of votes. We were successful in this strategy.' Once upon a time, Kaliganj was a Congress stronghold, with its current ally Left also winning the seat multiple times. In 2016, the TMC was defeated by the Congress from here. However, in 2021, the TMC won big from Kaliganj, and has now continued that. The small solace, if any, for the Congress-CPI(M) is that its vote share has seen a rise from 11.98% of the votes in 2021 to 15.21% in this bypoll. With the Left extending support to the Congress in the Kaliganj bypoll, CPI(M) state secretary Md Selim said they are taking heart from their performance. 'The TMC and Bengal ran an extremely communal campaign, but the people of Bengal realise that it will not solve their basic problems… We will gain more in the coming days.'
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Business Standard
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Assembly bypolls: BJP wins Gujarat, Congress bags Kerala, AAP takes Punjab
Counting is underway for the by-elections held on June 19 across five Assembly constituencies in Gujarat, Kerala, Punjab, and West Bengal. The seats contested include Kadi and Visavadar in Gujarat, Nilambur in Kerala, Ludhiana West in Punjab, and Kaliganj in West Bengal. BJP and AAP split wins in Gujarat In Gujarat, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) split the two contested seats. In Kadi (SC), BJP's Rajendrakumar Daneshwar Chavda won by a commanding margin of 39,452 votes, securing 99,742 votes against Congress candidate Rameshbhai Chavda's 60,290. The seat fell vacant after the death of BJP MLA Karsan Solanki in February. Visavadar saw a win for AAP's Italia Gopal, who defeated BJP's Kirit Patel by 17,554 votes. Gopal received 75,942 votes while Patel garnered 58,388. The seat became vacant after former AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani resigned and joined the BJP. Congress retains Kerala's Nilambur In Kerala, Congress' Aryadan Shoukath secured a win in Nilambur, defeating CPI(M)'s M Swaraj by a margin of 11,077 votes. Shoukath garnered 77,737 votes while Swaraj received 66,660. The bypoll was necessitated by the resignation of PV Anvar, a Left-backed independent MLA who later joined the Trinamool Congress. Anvar had previously won the seat in 2021 by a narrow margin of 2,700 votes. AAP clinches Ludhiana West in Punjab In Punjab, AAP's Sanjeev Arora won the Ludhiana West bypoll, defeating Congress' Bharat Bhushan Ashu by 10,637 votes. Arora received 35,179 votes to Ashu's 24,542. The seat was vacated following the death of sitting AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi earlier this year. BJP's Jiwan Gupta secured third place with 20,323 votes, while Shiromani Akali Dal's Parupkar Singh Ghuman managed 8,203. Since its formation in 1977, Congress has won Ludhiana West six times, while the BJP has never claimed the seat. TMC ahead in Bengal's Kaliganj In West Bengal's Kaliganj, Alifa Ahmed of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leads by a margin of 51,334 votes after 19 of 23 rounds of counting. She has secured 91,480 votes so far, ahead of BJP's Ashish Ghosh with 40,146 votes and Congress' Kabil Uddin Shaikh with 26,220. The bypoll was called following the death of TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed, Alifa Ahmed's father. With a Muslim electorate comprising around 54 per cent, Kaliganj is considered politically significant ahead of the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls.
