Aam Aadmi Party Wins Visavadar Assembly Bypoll in Gujarat
Visavadar Bypoll Result 2025: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has secured a significant victory in the Visavadar Assembly bypoll in Gujarat. AAP candidate Gopal Italia defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Kirit Patel. This win is considered crucial for AAP and is seen as a boost to Arvind Kejriwal's political standing.
AAP's Victory in Visavadar
Results from the Visavadar Assembly bypoll in Gujarat are in. Aam Aadmi Party candidate Gopal Italia defeated Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Kirit Patel. Italia secured 75,942 votes, while the BJP candidate received 58,388 votes. Italia's victory margin was a decisive 17,554 votes.
Congress Finishes Third
The Congress party performed poorly in this bypoll. Their candidate, Nitin Ranpariya, received only 5,501 votes, highlighting the party's dwindling support base in Gujarat. Congress finished third, having negligible impact on the outcome.
Voting Held on June 19
Voting for the Visavadar bypoll took place on June 19, 2025, in the Visavadar Assembly constituency of Junagadh district. According to the Election Commission, the voter turnout was 56.89%, considered average, but rendered politically significant by AAP's victory.
Reason for the Bypoll
The Visavadar Assembly seat fell vacant in December 2023 when the then AAP MLA, Bhupendra Bhayani, resigned from the party and joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His defection necessitated the bypoll. Bhayani's strategic move is now questionable, given AAP's subsequent victory on the same seat.
Impact on Political Equations
While the Visavadar bypoll results don't drastically alter Gujarat's political landscape, they represent a symbolic triumph for the Aam Aadmi Party. The BJP currently governs the state with 161 MLAs in the Assembly. Congress holds 12 seats, while AAP now has four. The Samajwadi Party and an independent MLA each hold one seat.
Gopal Italia's Win
Gopal Italia has previously served as a prominent face of the Aam Aadmi Party in Gujarat, playing a key role in establishing the party's organization. His victory demonstrates that focused campaigning on key issues and b grassroots engagement can make inroads even in BJP bholds like Gujarat. In the 2022 Assembly elections, AAP made a b debut in Gujarat, securing four seats and establishing itself as a third alternative to the BJP and Congress, despite not forming the government.
