The byelections in Punjab and Kerala are significant for Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Priyanka’s campaign for the Nilambur seat is pivotal for establishing her leadership within Congress, especially after the resignation of an independent MLA. Meanwhile, Kejriwal aims for AAP’s success in the Ludhiana West seat to facilitate his political return to the upper house.
The results of byelections for two seats in Punjab and Kerala are crucial for two prominent leaders — Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. For Priyanaka, who led the campaigning for Nilambur seat from the front, a Congress victory in the Kerala seat would cement her leadership among party workers. At the same time, a win for AAP in the Ludhiana bypoll would allow Arvind Kejriwal to begin his political second innings from the upper house.
Nilambur falls under Priyanka’s parliamentary constituency, Wayanad. Therefore, the Congress leader started her campaign eight months before the election, hoping to create a favourable atmosphere among the electorate. The byelection was held due to the resignation of LDF-backed independent MLA PV Anwar. Anwar contested again with the support of the Trinamool Congress.
As the Pinarayi Vijayan government nears the end of its second term in office, the by-election in the forest-fringe constituency has evolved into a prestigious battle for both the ruling CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-headed UDF.
A loss would invite criticism against Priyanka Gandhi’s leadership, which is why the 53-year-old actively campaigned to ensure her candidate’s victory.
നിലമ്പൂരിലെ കലാശക്കൊട്ട് ജനസാഗരമാക്കി യുഡിഎഫ്!
ആര്യാടൻ ഷൗക്കത്ത് റെക്കോർഡ് ഭൂരിപക്ഷത്തിലേക്ക്! pic.twitter.com/upL64hy1pX
— Congress Kerala (@INCKerala) June 17, 2025
“I go to sleep wondering if I deserve this much love,” said Priyanka, addressing a roadshow in Nilambur on Sunday in support of Congress bypoll candidate Aryadan Shoukath.
Similarly, a lot is at stake for Arvind Kejriwal in the Punjab byelection. A win in the Ludhiana West seat would allow him to begin his political second innings from the upper house.
The Aam Aadmi Party fielded Sanjeev Arora (61), a Rajya Sabha member and Ludhiana-based industrialist who is also known for his social welfare work, for the bypoll. According to reports, Arora has also been assured a ministerial post in the Punjab government once he wins. Speculations are rife that the move is being planned to pave the way for Kejriwal’s entry into Rajya Sabha from Ludhiana.
