AAP’s Gopal Italia wins Visavadar seat in Gujarat, Sanjeev Arora leads in Punjab’s Ludhiana West; Kejriwal says voters are choosing AAP over traditional parties.
AAP Scores Twin Wins in Gujarat and Punjab Bypolls, Kejriwal Claims Voters Reject BJP and Congress
New Delhi, June 23, 2025 —In a significant political development ahead of key state elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) secured victories in the Visavadar assembly seat in Gujarat and is heading towards a win in Ludhiana West, Punjab, as per the latest bypoll results and trends.
AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal, celebrating the outcome, said the people have shown clear signs of disillusionment with both BJP and Congress, choosing AAP as a fresh alternative.
Bypoll Results:
Visavadar, Gujarat:- AAP’s Gopal Italia, a prominent face of the party in Gujarat, won the seat, defeating his nearest rivals from BJP and Congress.
- BJP’s Rajendra Chavda retained the seat, keeping the party’s hold in the region.
- Ludhiana West, Punjab:
- AAP’s Sanjeev Arora is leading by over 7,000 votes, as per initial trends, against Congress’ Bharat Bhushan Ashu.
Final confirmation of Arora’s win is awaited, but the momentum clearly rests with AAP.
Kejriwal: “People See Hope in AAP”
Reacting to the results, Arvind Kejriwal took to X (formerly Twitter) to thank voters in both states.
“Many congratulations on the splendid victory of Aam Aadmi Party in Gujarat's Visavadar and Punjab's Ludhiana West seats. The margin of victory is almost double compared to the last election,” he wrote in Hindi.
He further alleged that BJP and Congress had indirectly joined forces to defeat AAP but failed:
“Both BJP and Congress contested the elections together with the same goal — to defeat AAP. But the people rejected both.”
In another post, Kejriwal said,
“The people of Gujarat are fed up with the BJP and are now seeing hope in Aam Aadmi Party. Punjab’s people are also satisfied with our work and have voted in greater numbers than in 2022.”
Celebrations at AAP HQ
At the AAP headquarters in Delhi, party workers broke into jubilant celebrations, distributing laddoos and raising slogans of “Bharosa AAP par hai” (The trust is on AAP).
Party leaders termed the result as a mandate for honest politics, governance focused on education, healthcare, and transparency — pillars AAP has long claimed as its strengths.
Why This Matters
- The Visavadar win signals renewed momentum for AAP in Gujarat, where it has been working to build a grassroots base.
- In Punjab, the lead in Ludhiana West reflects continued voter confidence in AAP’s governance since forming the state government in 2022.
- The bypolls, though covering a limited number of seats, are seen as a litmus test for public sentiment ahead of major state and municipal elections later this year.
About the Candidates
- Gopal Italia, a former student activist and state president, has been one of AAP’s most visible leaders in Gujarat, known for mobilising youth and raising local issues.
- Sanjeev Arora, a first-time candidate from Ludhiana West, campaigned largely on governance performance and public service delivery.
Opposition’s Reaction
Neither BJP nor Congress has issued detailed responses to the results yet, but local leaders in Gujarat have hinted at reviewing their campaign strategies. Political observers note that the bipolar landscape in states like Gujarat may be shifting, with AAP emerging as a credible third force.