Latest news with #GopalItalia
News18
an hour ago
- Politics
- News18
Bypoll Results Today In 4 States; AAP Wins Big In Punjab, Gujarat; Congress Wins In Kerala
Last Updated: The bypolls were held in Kerala's Nilambur seat, Gujarat's Visavadar and Kadi, Punjab's Ludhiana West and West Bengal's Kaliganj on June 19. The results of the bypolls held in five seats across four states – Gujarat, Punjab, Kerala and West Bengal – were announced today, as the counting of votes began at 8 am amid tight security. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Congress-led UDF won one seat each, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won two – in Gujarat and Punjab. On June 19, the bypolls were held in Kerala's Nilambur seat, Gujarat's Visavadar and Kadi seats, Punjab's Ludhiana West, and West Bengal's Kaliganj. A fierce contest was seen between the BJP, Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, and Pinarayi Vijayan's Left Democratic Front (LDF). AAP's Gopal Italia won the Visavadar seat with a margin of 17,554 votes, while BJP's Rajendra Chavda won the Kadi seat with a margin of 39,452 votes. TMC's Alifa Ahmed won the Kaliganj seat by a margin of 49,755 votes. AAP's Sanjeev Arora won in Ludhiana by 10,637 votes and Congress-Led UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath by over 11,000 votes against CPIM's M Swaraj in Nilambur. The polling took place under tight security arrangements, including the deployment of central forces and police, along with the live monitoring of the bypoll process through an extensive webcasting system. These Assembly bypolls hold significant importance for both the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and the opposition INDIA bloc. Punjab – Ludhiana West The Ludhiana West Assembly seat fell vacant after AAP MLA Gurpreet Bassi Gogi passed away in January. A total of 14 candidates competed in the bypoll, with key players from the AAP, Congress, BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal. AAP fielded Rajya Sabha MP Sanjeev Arora, 61, while Congress went with former Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, 51, who won the seat twice in 2012 and 2017. The BJP fielded senior party leader Jiwan Gupta and the SAD named Parupkar Singh Ghuman as its candidate. The bypoll registered 51.33% polling, a sharp drop from the 64% voting registered in the 2022 Assembly polls. Kerala – Nilambur The byelection for the Nilambur Assembly seat was conducted after Anvar resigned as MLA after several ties with the CPI(M)-led LDF over certain allegations from Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his close aides. Among the 10 contestants, the key contenders are ruling LDF's pick M Swaraj, Aryadan Shoukath of the Congress-led UDF, TMC state convenor and Independent nominee P V Anvar and Mohan George of the BJP-led NDA. Nilambur saw the highest voter turnout in all five bypolls, with 75.27%. Gujarat – Visavadar, Kadi There were bypoll elections in two Assembly seats in Gujarat. The Visavadar seat in Junagadh district has been vacant since December 2023, when AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani resigned and joined the BJP. The BJP nominated Kirit Patel, Congress went with Nitin Ranpariya and AAP chose former Gujarat President Gopal Italia in the fierce three-way contest. On the other hand, the Kadi seat in Mehsana district fell vacant on February 4 after the death of BJP MLA Karsan Solanki. The BJP fielded Rajendra Chavda, while the Congress nominated former MLA Ramesh Chavda. The AAP chose Jagdish Chavda as its candidate. Visavadar saw a voter turnout of 56.89%, while Kadi witnessed 57.91%. West Bengal – Kaliganj The bypoll in Kaliganj in West Bengal's Nadia district was necessitated after the death of Trinamool Congress MLA Nasiruddin Ahamed in February. The ruling party fielded his daughter, Alifa Ahamed, for the bypoll. The BJP nominated Ashis Ghosh, and the Congress chose Kabil Uddin Shaikh with the support of the CPI(M). A voter turnout of 73.36% was recorded in the Kaliganj bypoll on June 19 amid a fierce three-way contest in the aftermath of the Murshidabad riots and Operation Sindoor. (with inputs from agencies) First Published: News politics Bypoll Results Today In 4 States; AAP Wins Big In Punjab, Gujarat; Congress Wins In Kerala
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Bypoll results: AAP retains Visavadar, BJP keeps Kadi
Rajkot/Gandhinagar: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) retained the Visavadar assembly seat and the BJP the Kadi seat, when counting for these byelections concluded on Monday. In Visavadar, Gopal Italia defeating BJP's Kirit Patel by 17,500 votes. The Congress was relegated to third place, signalling a further decline of its influence in the region. The BJP comfortably retained the Kadi assembly seat in Mehsana district, which is reserved for scheduled caste (SC) candidates. Its candidate Rajendra Chavda defeated Ramesh Chavda of the Congress by 39,452 votes. Rajendra Chavda received 99,742 votes, while former Congress MLA Ramesh Chavda polled 60,290 votes. The AAP candidate, Jagdish Chavda, was a distant third, polling 3,090 votes. According to official data, 57.91% of the voters in the constituency exercised their franchise on June 19. According to official figures, 1.48 lakh votes were polled in Visavadar. Gopal Italia secured 75,906 votes, followed by BJP's Kirit Patel with 58,325 votes. Congress's candidate Nitin Ranpariya polled just 5,491 votes. While the Visavadar byelection was necessitated by AAP MLA Bhupat Bhayani resigning and later joining the BJP, the Kadi seat fell vacant after the death of BJP MLA Karshan Solanki in Feb. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo A jubilant Rajendra Chavda thanked voters and the BJP for the victory after the results were declared. "The leadership acknowledged my 40 years of work in the party by giving me the opportunity to serve the people as an MLA. I thank the party and the voters of Kadi for this victory," he said. Speaking to mediapersons after his victory, Italia thanked the voters and said, "Generally, when a candidate wins, the celebration is limited to the constituency. This is the first such victory where all of Gujarat is celebrating. This proves that it is the victory of crores of people's dreams, hopes and struggles." According to sources, after Italia's win, his supporters were also seen chanting slogans like "Jawahar Chavda Zindabad". Jawahar Chavda, who previously won the Manavadar assembly seat thrice on a Congress ticket, joined the BJP and contested the 2022 election on a BJP ticket but was defeated. The AAP has extended the BJP's wait to reclaim the seat, which the ruling party last won in 2007. The Visavadar constituency comprises the Visavadar and Bhesan talukas, part of Junagadh taluka and some villages of Amreli district. Historically, Visavadar has remained unpredictable for political analysts. The BJP first won the seat in 1995 when former chief minister Keshubhai Patel contested from here. Although he couldn't complete his term, he was re-elected in 1998. The BJP went on to win the seat again in 2002 and 2007. In 2012, Keshubhai Patel formed the Gujarat Parivartan Party (GPP) and contested from Visavadar, winning the seat again.
NDTV
8 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
From Congress To AAP: A Political Shift In Gujarat's Visavadar
Ahmedabad: Visavadar, a seat long held or closely contested by the Congress, delivered a verdict in the 2025 bypoll by electing Aam Aadmi Party's Gopal Italia, a result which encapsulates the crumbling of old allegiances and the emergence of new political aspirations. With 75,942 votes to his name, Mr Italia defeated BJP's Kirit Patel (58,388 votes) by a decisive margin of 17,554. Congress, which once wielded commanding influence in this agrarian belt of Junagadh district, plummeted to a dismal third with a mere 5,501 votes. It is a reversal of political fortunes few would have predicted a decade ago. Visavadar has historically been a 'Congress country'. From the days of Madhavsinh Solanki's dominance in Gujarat politics to the post-liberalisation electoral churn, Congress maintained a strong presence in Saurashtra through its grassroots workers, its caste alliances, particularly with the Patidar and Koli communities and its image as the party of farmers. In the 2017 and 2022 elections, Visavadar was one of the few seats where Congress remained competitive even as its presence diminished elsewhere in Gujarat. The bypoll was triggered by the defection of AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani to the BJP, an act seen by many locals as political betrayal. This left the seat vacant and opened the field for a high-stakes contest. The Congress, weakened by internal strife and a crumbling cadre, fielded a low-key candidate, hoping nostalgia and legacy would carry them through. But the ground had shifted. Instead of flowing back to Congress, the anti-BJP sentiment in the constituency rallied behind Gopal Italia, a leader with credibility, conviction, and connection. Mr Italia's entry into the contest changed the entire dynamic. His political identity, shaped by activism, anti-corruption movements, and his prominent role in the Patidar agitation, gave AAP the kind of leadership Gujarat had been lacking. His appeal extended beyond caste lines, drawing in first-time voters, disenchanted Congress supporters, and farmers fed up with both state and central neglect. For Congress, the defeat is more than electoral; it is existential. The party's vote share in Visavadar has collapsed from nearly 30 per cent in 2022 to under 8 per cent now. This isn't just about one seat. It's about a broader rejection of a party that has failed to offer fresh leadership, build new narratives, or even sustain old ones. The resignation of Gujarat Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil in the aftermath only highlights the turmoil. AAP, by contrast, ran a meticulously localised campaign. While Delhi's governance model was highlighted, the focus remained on Visavadar's specific issues: dwindling water resources, poor healthcare infrastructure, agricultural distress, and the feeling of political abandonment. Mr Italia's team worked booth-to-booth, speaking in the idiom of the voter, not the Delhi headquarters. The BJP's second-place finish is significant but also telling. Despite their deep pockets and statewide cadre network, they could not capitalise on Congress's collapse. Their bet on Bhayani's defection misfired badly, and the selection of Kirit Patel failed to energise voters. The electorate's message was clear: it will not reward opportunism or take kindly to backroom deals. What Visavadar demonstrates is a changing pulse in Gujarat's rural politics. A constituency once loyal to Congress has not only turned away but has not defaulted to the BJP, a scenario Gujarat has rarely seen in recent years. Instead, it has consciously chosen a third path. For the Aam Aadmi Party, this is more than a symbolic win. It is a confirmation that their brand of issue-driven, personality-backed politics has potential in Gujarat beyond urban fringes. With Gopal Italia now firmly established as the face of this new push, AAP has its first real grassroots icon in the state. It remains to be seen whether they can build on this momentum, but for now, they have what Congress once had in Visavadar, a toehold in the voters' trust. Visavadar's verdict is a turning point. It tells the story of a constituency that once stood with the Congress, turned restless, and now has chosen to invest its faith in a new experiment. Whether that experiment flourishes or flounders will shape not just the future of 'Saurashtra' but potentially of Gujarat's politics itself.
Hans India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Gujarat: Visavadar's political realignment from Congress to AAP
Ahmedabad: Visavadar, a seat long held or closely contested by the Congress, delivered a verdict in the 2025 bypoll by electing Aam Aadmi Party's Gopal Italia, a result which encapsulates the crumbling of old allegiances and the emergence of new political aspirations. With 75,942 votes to his name, Italia defeated BJP's Kirit Patel (58,388 votes) by a decisive margin of 17,554. Congress, which once wielded commanding influence in this agrarian belt of Junagadh district, plummeted to a dismal third with a mere 5,501 votes. It is a reversal of political fortunes few would have predicted a decade ago. Visavadar has historically been a 'Congress country'. From the days of Madhavsinh Solanki's dominance in Gujarat politics to the post-liberalisation electoral churn, Congress maintained a strong presence in Saurashtra through its grassroots workers, its caste alliances, particularly with the Patidar and Koli communities and its image as the party of farmers. In the 2017 and 2022 elections, Visavadar was one of the few seats where Congress remained competitive even as its presence diminished elsewhere in Gujarat. The bypoll was triggered by the defection of AAP MLA Bhupendra Bhayani to the BJP, an act seen by many locals as political betrayal. This left the seat vacant and opened the field for a high-stakes contest. The Congress, weakened by internal strife and a crumbling cadre, fielded a low-key candidate, hoping nostalgia and legacy would carry them through. But the ground had shifted. Instead of flowing back to Congress, the anti-BJP sentiment in the constituency rallied behind Gopal Italia, a leader with credibility, conviction, and connection. Italia's entry into the contest changed the entire dynamic. His political identity, shaped by activism, anti-corruption movements, and his prominent role in the Patidar agitation, gave AAP the kind of leadership Gujarat had been lacking. His appeal extended beyond caste lines, drawing in first-time voters, disenchanted Congress supporters, and farmers fed up with both state and central neglect. For Congress, the defeat is more than electoral; it is existential. The party's vote share in Visavadar has collapsed from nearly 30 per cent in 2022 to under 8 per cent now. This isn't just about one seat. It's about a broader rejection of a party that has failed to offer fresh leadership, build new narratives, or even sustain old ones. The resignation of Gujarat Congress chief Shaktisinh Gohil in the aftermath only highlights the turmoil. AAP, by contrast, ran a meticulously localised campaign. While Delhi's governance model was highlighted, the focus remained on Visavadar's specific issues: dwindling water resources, poor healthcare infrastructure, agricultural distress, and the feeling of political abandonment. Italia's team worked booth-to-booth, speaking in the idiom of the voter, not the Delhi headquarters. The BJP's second-place finish is significant but also telling. Despite their deep pockets and statewide cadre network, they could not capitalise on Congress's collapse. Their bet on Bhayani's defection misfired badly, and the selection of Kirit Patel failed to energise voters. The electorate's message was clear: it will not reward opportunism or take kindly to backroom deals. What Visavadar demonstrates is a changing pulse in Gujarat's rural politics. A constituency once loyal to Congress has not only turned away but has not defaulted to the BJP, a scenario Gujarat has rarely seen in recent years. Instead, it has consciously chosen a third path. For the Aam Aadmi Party, this is more than a symbolic win. It is a confirmation that their brand of issue-driven, personality-backed politics has potential in Gujarat beyond urban fringes. With Gopal Italia now firmly established as the face of this new push, AAP has its first real grassroots icon in the state. It remains to be seen whether they can build on this momentum, but for now, they have what Congress once had in Visavadar, a toehold in the voters' trust. Visavadar's verdict is a turning point. It tells the story of a constituency that once stood with the Congress, turned restless, and now has chosen to invest its faith in a new experiment. Whether that experiment flourishes or flounders will shape not just the future of 'Saurashtra' but potentially of Gujarat's politics itself.
United News of India
8 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
AAP scores big in bypolls, Kejriwal says people have rejected BJP, Cong
New Delhi, June 23 (UNI) Buoyed by impressive bypoll victories in Punjab and Gujarat, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal on Monday said the results reflected a growing public disillusionment with both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In today's vote count for the June 19 by-elections involving five seats, AAP's Gopal Italia clinched the Visavadar assembly seat in Gujarat, while Sanjeev Arora, a sitting Rajya Sabha MP, emerged victorious in Ludhiana West, Punjab, defeating Congress veteran Bharat Bhushan Ashu. The BJP secured the Kadi seat in Gujarat through Rajendra Chavda, while Congress and the Trinamool Congress won one seat each in Kerala (Nilambur assembly seat) and West Bengal (Kaliganj) respectively. Celebrations broke out at the AAP headquarters in Delhi as party workers distributed sweets and raised slogans, hailing the victories as a major boost to the party's national ambitions. Reacting to the results, Kejriwal wrote in Hindi on social media platform X: 'The people of Gujarat are now fed up with the BJP and are seeing hope in the Aam Aadmi Party. In Punjab too, the people have appreciated our work and voted in even larger numbers than in 2022.' Thanking voters in both states, he added, 'Many congratulations and heartfelt thanks to the people of Gujarat and Punjab. The victory margins in both Visavadar and Ludhiana West are nearly double compared to the last election. This is a clear mandate rejecting both Congress and BJP.' Addressing a press conference in the capital post the declaration of results, the AAP National Convener said, 'AAP has won two out of five seats. Congress, BJP, and Trinamool have won one each. I congratulate Sanjeev Arora for Ludhiana West and Gopal Italia for Visavadar. We had earlier won Visavadar in 2022, but after our MLA joined the BJP, this bypoll was necessitated. We've now reclaimed the seat with a stronger mandate.' He added that the results were a sign of public approval for the performance of the AAP-led government in Punjab. Delhi AAP chief Saurabh Bharadwaj called the results 'a big political message.' 'The result is a big political message. The BJP was saying that AAP was finished, but I feel that Arvind Kejriwal has made a big comeback. It has bolstered the faith of the common people in the electoral process." UNI AJ SSP
