TMC, CPI(M) seek booster in Bengal, Kerala; BJP, AAP look to retain Gujarat, Punjab seats
ON THURSDAY, five Assembly seats across four states will vote in bypolls.
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the CPI(M) are looking at the bypolls in West Bengal and Kerala, where they are in power respectively, as precursors to the Assembly polls slated next year in their states.
The BJP wants to retain its old bastion in Gujarat, but it is also hoping to clinch another seat where the AAP is steadily growing. In Punjab, the ruling AAP is facing a challenge from not only the Congress but also the BJP.
Results are out on June 23.
Nilambur (Kerala)
The bypoll here was necessitated by the resignation of the CPI(M)-backed Independent legislator P V Anvar. The Congress, which lost the seat in 2021 by 2,700 votes, has mounted a stiff challenge, nominating old-timer Aryadan Shoukath. CM Pinarayi Vijayan has handpicked M Swaraj as the CPM candidate.
Kaliganj (West Bengal)
In the 2021 Assembly polls, TMC leader Nasiruddin Ahmed won Kaliganj by 46,987 votes against the BJP's Abhijit Ghosh. It was Ahmed's second win from the seat. Ahmed died in February this year after a cardiac arrest. His daughter Alifa Ahmed is now contesting the bypoll on the TMC's ticket. She is taking on the BJP's Ashish Ghosh and the Congress's Kabil Uddin.
The campaigns have been charged. The BJP has targeted the TMC over the Murshidabad riots. And the TMC has accused the BJP of communal polarisation.
Visavadar (Gujarat)
Visvadar in Gujarat's Junagadh district fell vacant after sitting AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani joined the ruling BJP. Bhayani is not contesting the seat, with the BJP having fielded Kirit Patel, a cooperative leader and a former district party president. The AAP has fielded Gopal Italia, one of the faces of the Patidar agitation in the state.
Kadi (Gujarat)
In the 2022 polls, the BJP's Karsanbhai Punjabhai Solanki won 53.45% of the total votes. The Congress came second.
The SC-reserved seat fell vacant after Solanki died in February. The BJP has fielded Rajendra Kumar Daneshwar Chavda,while the Congress has nominated Rameshbhai Chavda. The AAP has fielded Jagdishbhai Ganpatbhai Chavda here.
Ludhiana West (Punjab)
This bypoll was necessitated by the death of AAP's Gurpreet Bassi Gogi. It has fielded industrialist and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora. AAP top brass, including Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia, have campaigned. The Congress has fielded Bharat Bhushan Ashu and seems to be getting traction.
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