The stage is set in Gujarat as bypolls are being held today, June 19, 2025, in the Visavadar and Kadi Assembly constituencies. These elections are significant for several reasons, testing the political waters and potentially reshaping the existing dynamics in the state assembly.

The Visavadar seat, located in the Junagadh district, became vacant in December 2023 after Bhupendra Bhayani, the sitting MLA from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), resigned and subsequently joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move triggered a series of events, including a challenge to Bhayani's original 2022 election victory in the Gujarat High Court by the BJP's losing candidate, Harshad Ribadiya. Although Ribadiya later withdrew his petition, the seat remained vacant, necessitating the bypoll.

In contrast, the Kadi seat in the Mehsana district fell vacant due to the unfortunate demise of BJP MLA Karshan Solanki in February 2025. The Kadi constituency is reserved for candidates from the Scheduled Caste (SC) communities, adding another layer of importance to this election.

The political landscape in both constituencies features a triangular contest among the BJP, the Congress party, and the AAP. The BJP has nominated Kirit Patel for Visavadar and Rajendra Chavda for Kadi. The Congress party has fielded Nitin Ranpariya in Visavadar and Ramesh Chavda, a former MLA, in Kadi. The AAP has nominated Gopal Italia, its former Gujarat state president, for Visavadar and Jagdish Chavda for Kadi.

Voting is taking place today, June 19, 2025, between 7 am and 8 pm across 294 polling booths in each constituency. The Gujarat government has declared a public holiday in both constituencies to encourage voter participation. The results of the bypolls will be announced on June 23, 2025.

The bypolls are particularly crucial for the BJP, which currently holds a strong majority in the 182-member Gujarat Assembly with 161 MLAs. The Congress has 12 MLAs, the AAP has 4, and the Samajwadi Party has one, with two independents. Winning these bypolls would further solidify the BJP's position. For the Congress and AAP, these elections represent an opportunity to gain ground and challenge the BJP's dominance in the state.

The Visavadar bypoll is especially interesting, as the BJP has not won this seat since 2007, despite its overall dominance in Gujarat. The AAP, which had previously won the seat, is looking to regain its lost ground with a strong candidate in Gopal Italia. The Congress party is also aiming to put up a strong fight and reclaim the seat.

In Kadi, the BJP is keen to retain the seat following the death of its MLA, Karshan Solanki. The Congress party, which has fielded former MLA Ramesh Chavda, hopes to capitalize on any anti-incumbency sentiment and regain a constituency it previously held. The AAP is also looking to make inroads in this SC-reserved seat with its candidate, Jagdish Chavda.

These bypolls are being closely watched as they provide insights into the shifting political dynamics in Gujarat and could potentially influence the strategies of the major political parties in future elections.