The All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) clinched a commanding victory in the Kaliganj Assembly by-poll in West Bengal’s Nadia district on Monday, with candidate Alifa Ahmed winning the seat by a margin of over 50,000 votes. The results, finalised after 23 rounds of counting at Panighata UDM High School, reaffirm TMC’s stronghold in the region and could come as a bolster for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s momentum ahead of the 2026 state elections.
Alifa Ahmed, daughter of the late TMC MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed, whose death in February 2025 triggered the by-poll, polled approximately 91,400 votes. Her closest competitor, Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Ashish Ghosh, secured around 40,000 votes, while Congress candidate Kabil Uddin Shaikh, supported by the Left Front, garnered around 26,000 votes. Ahmed’s lead was evident from the early rounds, reflecting strong voter backing in a constituency where Muslims constitute about 54% of the electorate.
The by-poll, held on June 19, 2025, recorded a voter turnout of 69.85%, slightly lower than previous elections but robust for a by-election. The counting process, conducted under stringent security and monitored via CCTV, proceeded smoothly with no reported discrepancies, according to Election Commission officials.
Alifa Ahmed’s victory carries emotional resonance, as she inherits the mantle of her father, Nasiruddin Ahmed, fondly known as “Lal” among TMC supporters. Nasiruddin had won the seat in 2021 by a margin of 46,987 votes, and Alifa’s campaign leaned on his legacy while promising continued development for Kaliganj, a rural constituency within the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha segment represented by TMC’s Mahua Moitra.
“I dedicate this victory to my father and the people of Kaliganj who placed their faith in me,” Alifa said in a statement. “With Mamata Banerjee’s guidance, we will work tirelessly to fulfill their aspirations," she added.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lauded the victory as an assertion of people from religion and caste coming together. “People of all religions, castes, races and walks of life in the area have blessed us immensely by exercising their right to vote in the by-elections to the Kaliganj Assembly constituency. I humbly express my gratitude to them. The main architects of this victory are mother, soil, and people. My colleagues from Kaliganj have worked tirelessly for this. I also extend my heartfelt congratulations to them. My greetings and salutations to everyone. Remembering the late MLA Nasiruddin Ahmed, I dedicate this victory to the motherland and people of Bengal”, posted Mamata Banerjee on ‘X’.
