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Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Captain or Major? After bypoll win, Congress leaders fight over credit
T'puram/Kozhikode: UDF's win in Nilambur has sparked serious differences within the Congress, with senior leader Ramesh Chennithala voicing his displeasure over opposition leader VD Satheesan being praised as the 'captain' of the bypoll victory. "When I was opposition leader, we won several bypolls. But no one called me a captain," he said. To ease tensions, Satheesan responded, "If I'm called the captain now, then Chennithala is the major of the party." Chennithala said the party learned a key lesson from Nilambur — unity leads to victory. "In Nilambur, the anti-govt sentiment was strong and people clearly demanded change," he said. Chennithala also distanced himself from Satheesan's 'Mission 63' plan for the upcoming assembly election. Satheesan had proposed the strategy to secure 63 winnable seats, but the party hasn't revealed which seats are part of the plan. "Will it be a problem if we win more?" Chennithala asked. On the debate over former LDF-backed MLA PV Anvar's entry into UDF, Chennithala said, "We tried to bring Anvar to our side, but his criticism of our candidate became a problem. We tried to correct him, but he didn't listen. So UDF decided to ignore him." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Direct Shopping From Adidas Franchise Store With 60% Discount Original Adidas Shop Now Undo Asked if the opposition leader would become the chief minister if Congress won the next election, Chennithala said the party high command would take a final call. While Congress leaders have largely aligned with Satheesan's stand opposing Anvar's entry into UDF, IUML leaders have signalled that the door is not totally shut on the former MLA with senior leaders saying that Anvar was a factor in Nilambur bypoll and the votes he secured would come up for discussion. IUML MP ET Mohammed Basheer said Anvar was a factor in Nilambur bypoll as he secured significant votes and it was natural in politics to consider broadening UDF's support base ahead of future elections. "The matter of how to accommodate likeminded people for that is something which has to be discussed," he added. Basheer said there would be more favourable changes in the relations between parties during elections and said that it is something that can be discussed then. "The issue of Anvar's entry will automatically come up for discussions," he added. Senior leader MK Muneer said though he felt that this is not the time to discuss Anvar's entry into the front, the votes he received would come up for discussion. "We are not viewing the over 18,000 votes he secured lightly. Most votes he secured came from the Left. That is not a small number," said Muneer. He added that Anvar's remarks against UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath and Satheesan had created difficulties in reaching a collective decision. "IUML had taken initiatives in this regard at the outset. But we won't do anything that would cause damage to the front," he said. IUML's leadership meeting in Malappuram on Friday will discuss Nilambur election results. After UDF won in Nilambur, Satheesan had said that the front had closed its door to Anvar based on a collective decision and there were no discussions about reopening it at the moment. Anvar, who resigned as the MLA after a fallout with CPM and necessitated the bypoll, made inroads into the vote banks of both fronts. He secured 19,760 votes (11.23%) in the constituency.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Bypoll results 2025: Congress gains in Kerala, suffers loss in Punjab; TMC retains West Bengal, BJP-AAP take one seat each in Gujarat
NEW DELHI: Bypolls were held on June 19 for five Assembly seats across Gujarat, Kerala, West Bengal, and Punjab, and counting took place on June 23. The contests saw a mix of gains and setbacks for national and regional parties. Here's a state-wise breakdown: Kerala: Congress' UDF wins Nilambur in big blow to LDF In a major setback for Kerala's ruling LDF, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Aryadan Shoukath defeated CPI(M)'s M Swaraj by a margin of 11,077 votes in the Nilambur bypoll. Shoukath, son of former minister Aryadan Mohammed, secured 77,737 votes, while Swaraj managed 66,660. The seat fell vacant after two-time MLA PV Anvar, an LDF-backed independent, resigned. The victory gives the Congress a morale boost ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Lok Sabha MP from neighbouring Wayanad, congratulated Shoukath and said: "We worked as a team, each one with commitment and single pointed focus, that is the most important lesson of this success... Your trust and belief in the values of our Constitution, and in the UDF's vision for progress will be the guiding light for our way forward." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Преносим лазерен заваръчен пистолет, 50% отстъпка днес HL Купете сега Undo West Bengal: TMC's Alifa Ahmed registers landslide win in Kaliganj Trinamool Congress candidate Alifa Ahmed, daughter of late MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed, won the Kaliganj bypoll in Nadia district by a thumping 50,049-vote margin over BJP's Ashish Ghosh. Alifa polled 1,02,759 votes, while Ghosh got 52,710. Congress' Kabil Uddin Shaikh finished third with 28,348 votes. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee thanked voters and dedicated the win to 'Maa-Mati-Manush' and the late Nasiruddin Ahmed. 'In the by-election of the Kaliganj Assembly constituency, people from all religions, castes, communities, and all walks of life have overwhelmingly blessed us... I dedicate this victory to the people of Bengal,' she said. Alifa, an engineer by training, quit her job in the private sector and entered politics inspired by MP Mahua Moitra. Gujarat: AAP retains Visavadar , BJP holds Kadi The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate Gopal Italia defeated BJP's Kirit Patel in Visavadar by a margin of 17,554 votes, reclaiming the seat that it had won in 2022 but lost due to the defection of its MLA, Bhupendra Bhayani, to the BJP. Meanwhile, the BJP retained its Kadi seat where Rajendra Chavda won by nearly 40,000 votes, maintaining its grip on the constituency since 2017. Punjab: AAP retains Ludhiana West, Congress' Ashu resigns In Punjab, the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) retained the Ludhiana West seat, with candidate Sanjeev Arora defeating Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu by 10,637 votes. Arora secured 35,179 votes to Ashu's 24,542. The bypoll was necessitated after the death of sitting AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. Soon after the defeat, Ashu announced his resignation as Punjab Congress working president, saying he was taking "moral responsibility" for the loss. 'I have tendered my resignation while taking moral responsibility for the electoral defeat in the by-election,' he told reporters in Ludhiana. The BJP's Jiwan Gupta polled 20,323 votes, and SAD's Parupkar Singh Ghuman received 8,203.
The Hindu
23-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Assembly bypolls: AAP retains both seats; BJP, Congress, Trinamool bag one each
After the drubbing in the Delhi Assembly polls earlier this year, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was in for a good news on Monday as the party managed to retain Punjab's Ludhiana West and Gujarat' Visavadar seats in the Assembly bypolls. Assembly bypolls results: Follow LIVE updates on June 23, 2025 The Trinamool Congress retained Kaliganj in West Bengal while Nilambur in Kerala went to the Congress. The BJP managed to retain Kadi in Gujarat. The bypolls in the five constituencies were held on June 19 and the results announced on Monday. Also Read | Gujarat Assembly bypolls: AAP wins Visavadar, BJP retains Kadi seat AAP candidate Gopal Italia, former president of the party in Gujarat, defeated his nearest rival, BJP's Kirit Patel in Visavadar by a margin of 17,554 votes, according to the Election Commission of India (EC). The BJP could not win the seat since 2007 despite its near-total dominance in the State. However, the party managed to retain Kadi, which is a reserved constituency. BJP's Rajendra Chavda won by a margin of 39,452 votes over Congress' Ramesh Chavda. The bye-election in Kadi was necessitated due to the death of BJP MLA Karsanbhai Punjabhai Solanki in February; Visavadar went to bypolls as its MLA Bhayani Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai resigned from the AAP and joined the BJP. Also Read | Nilambur Assembly bypoll: UDF's Aryadan Shoukath ensures resounding win In Punjab, the ruling AAP retained the Ludhiana West seat. The party's Sanjeev Arora defeated Congress's Bharat Bhushan Ashu by 10,637 votes. While reacting to the bypoll wins, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said he would not become a Rajya Sabha member in the wake of party Rajya Sabha MP Mr. Arora's election as MLA. When asked who the party will nominate in Mr Arora's place, Mr. Kejriwal said: 'Many times I have been sent to the Rajya Sabha. I want to tell you I am not going to the Rajya Sabha. The political affairs committee of the party will decide whom to nominate.' Also Read | Assembly bypoll: People rejected both BJP and Congress, says Arvind Kejriwal after AAP's victory In Kerala, it was a setback for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government as the opposition Congress-led UDF wrested the Nilambur assembly constituency from it by a margin of 11,077 votes. Congress' Aryadan Shoukath, son of late Congress leader Aryadan Muhammed, defeated CPI(M) state secretariat member M. Swaraj. The Nilambur seat fell vacant after LDF-backed independent and two-time MLA P.V. Anvar resigned. Mr. Anvar had won twice from the seat with LDF support. He had resigned as MLA following differences with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. He then fought the bypolls as an independent candidate backed by the Trinamool Congress. In West Bengal, the ruling Trinamool Congress' Alifa Ahamed won Kaliganj by a whopping 50,049 votes, defeating BJP's Ashish Ghosh. Congress' Kabiluddin Shaikh came third with 28,348 votes. Assembly bypolls: Gujarat Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil resigns after party loses both seats The bye-election was necessitated due to the death of Trinamool Congress MLA Nasiruddin Ahamed. It was seen as a litmus test for the ruling Trinamool and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee amid myriad controversies, including the loss of jobs of 25,753 teaching and non-teaching jobs in State-run schools. In a post on X on Monday, Ms. Banerjee said: 'In the by-election of the Kaliganj Assembly constituency, people from all religions, castes, communities, and all walks of life have overwhelmingly blessed us by exercising their voting rights. I humbly express my gratitude to them.'
United News of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
Kerala: UDF wrests Nilambur Assembly seat from ruling LDF
Malappuram, June 23 (UNI) Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Aryadan Shoukath wrested the Nilambur Assembly constituency from the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) by a margin of 11,432 votes in the by-election on Monday. UDF's Shoukath secured 76,493 votes, LDF's M Swaraj 65,061 , Independent and former Nilambur MLA PV Anvar 19,946 and BJP-led NDA candidate Mohan George 8,706 votes. Ten contenders were in the fray in the constituency with a total of 2,32,057 voters. The turnout of 75.27 per cent was recorded on June 19 with 1,74,667 electors reaching the polling booth and exercising their right to vote. Out of 1,13,299 male voters, 81,007, out of 1,18,750 female voters, 93,658 and two out of eight transgenders exercised their right to vote. The Nilambur by-election was necessitated following the resignation of LDF- backed Independent MLA PV Anvar in January 2024. He defected from LDF and joined All India Trinamool Congress and became the state convenor of AITC. LDF backed Independent MLA Mr Anvar has been representing Nilambur assembly constituency for the last 8.5 years (2016- 2024) . In the 2016 elections, LDF-backed independent PV Anvar defeated Congress' Aryadan Shoukath by a margin of 11,504 votes from the constituency on Shoukath's maiden electoral battle, after his father Aryadan Muhammed won from Nilambur constituency six times consecutively from 1987 to 2011. In the 2021 assembly elections, LDF-backed Independent PV Anvar defeated Congress' VV Prakash by a margin of 2,700-odd votes. UNI AK PRS
United News of India
23-06-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
UDF wrests Nilambur seat from ruling LDF in by-election
Malappuram, June 23 (UNI) Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) candidate Aryadan Shoukath wrested the Nilambur Assembly constituency from the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) by a margin of 11,077 votes in the by-elections on Monday. Shoukath secured 77,737 votes, LDF's M Swaraj 66,660, Independent and former Nilambur MLA PV Anvar 19,760 and BJP-led NDA's Adv Mohan George 8,648 votes, respectively. Ten contenders are in the fray with 2,32,057 voters in the final list. A turnout of 75.27 per cent was recorded on June 19 . As many as 1,74,667 people reached the polling booth and exercised their right to vote. Out of 1,13,299 male voters, 81,007, out of 1,18,750 female voters, 93,658 and two out of eight transgenders exercised their right to vote. UDF secured leads in Nilambur municipality by 3,967 votes and in seven panchayats -- Vazhikadavu-1,829 votes, Moothedam (2,067 votes), Edakkara (1170) , Pothukallu (307), Chungathara (1,287) and Amarambalam 704 votes. The LDF secured lead of 118 votes from only Karulai panchayat. In the 2021 Nilambur assembly election, LDF-backed Independent PV Anvar (secured 81,227 votes) defeated VV Prakash of UDF (polled 78,527 votes). But in the 2025 election, the UDF showed a mere decrease of vote share of 44.51 per cent in the 2025 election from 45.34 (2021 election). But the LDF vote share decreased to 38.16 (2025 election) from 46.90 (2021 election) in this election. The NDA vote share remains almost the same as in 2021. In 2025 it recorded 4.95 vote share; it was 4.96 in the 2021. The Nilambur by-election was necessitated following the resignation of Left Democratic Front (LDF) backed Independent MLA PV Anvar in January 2024. He defected from LDF and joined All India Trinamool Congress and became the state convenor of AITC. LDF-backed Independent MLA Anvar has been representing Nilambur assembly constituency for the last 8.5 years (2016- 2024) . In the 2016 assembly elections, LDF-backed Independent PV Anvar defeated INC's Aryadan Shoukath by a margin of 11,504 votes from Nilambur constituency on Aryadan Shoukath maiden electioneering to Assembly elections, after his father Aryadan Muhammed won from Nilambur constituency six times consecutively from 1987 to 2011. In the 2021 assembly elections, LDF-backed Independent candidate PV Anvar defeated Indian National Congress (INC) candidate V V Prakash by a margin of 2700-odd votes.
