In a strategic move ahead of crucial Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday named Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan as the election in-charge for Bihar and Bhupender Yadav for West Bengal, leveraging their proven expertise as key Other Backward Classes (OBC) figures and adept poll managers. Baijayant 'Jay' Panda, a BJP vice-president, has been appointed as the in-charge for Tamil Nadu, where the party allies with the AIADMK. These appointments, detailed in a party statement, come as Bihar gears up for polls in November 2025, while West Bengal and Tamil Nadu are slated for March-April 2026.

Supporting Pradhan in Bihar are co-incharges Union Minister C R Paatil, the BJP's Gujarat unit head known for his organizational prowess, and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, also from an OBC background. For West Bengal, former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, a Bengali, serves as co-incharge, potentially aiding the party's outreach in the state. In Tamil Nadu, Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol assists Panda, aligning with the BJP's efforts to strengthen its junior partner status in the AIADMK-led alliance against the ruling DMK.

Pradhan and Yadav bring a wealth of experience to their roles. Pradhan, who co-managed the 2010 Bihar elections that delivered a resounding victory for the BJP-JD(U) alliance, also led successful campaigns in Haryana (2024), Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Karnataka. Yadav, credited with the BJP's triumphs in Maharashtra (2024) and previous stints in Bihar and Gujarat, exemplifies the party's reliance on battle-tested leaders. Their OBC credentials and track record position them to bridge national strategies with ground-level execution, crucial for the BJP's ambitions in diverse electoral landscapes.

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The BJP aims to retain power in Bihar alongside ally Janata Dal (United), while challenging the Trinamool Congress's stronghold in West Bengal under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who will mark 15 years in office by the polls. In Tamil Nadu, where the party has historically been marginal, Panda's recent success in Delhi—securing a return to power after 25 years—offers hope for building a robust anti-DMK front. These elections will coincide with polls in Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry, amplifying the stakes for the BJP's national footprint.

As the party navigates these battlegrounds, the appointments of Pradhan, Yadav, and Panda signal a calculated blend of experience, regional nuance, and organizational muscle. Election in-charges, as vital links between the central leadership and state units, will be instrumental in tailoring the BJP's narrative, mobilizing resources, and countering opposition strongholds to sustain its electoral momentum.

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