The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made history in the Delhi Assembly elections with a commanding victory, securing 48 out of 70 seats and ending the decade-long rule of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). This landslide win marked BJP’s return to power in the national capital after 27 years and was widely seen as a turning point in Delhi’s political landscape.

While many credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and BJP’s campaign manifesto, a key figure working behind the scenes was Baijayant ‘Jay’ Panda, the party’s Delhi in-charge and a seasoned political strategist.

Jay Panda: BJP’s Behind-the-Scenes Mastermind

Baijayant Jay Panda, a five-time MP from Odisha, was tasked with revamping BJP’s election strategy in Delhi just three months before the polls. The party had previously struggled in the state, winning only three seats in 2015 and eight seats in 2020.

However, with Panda at the helm, BJP’s campaign saw a dramatic transformation. His meticulous planning, focus on booth-level outreach, and silent strategy paid off, resulting in a historic win for the party.

Why Did Delhi Vote for BJP?

According to Panda, BJP’s success was primarily driven by:

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership: Panda emphasized that Modi’s guarantee resonated deeply with Delhi voters. “People have unwavering faith in PM Modi. They saw through the corruption and misgovernance of AAP and chose change,” he said.
• Discontent with AAP’s governance: Voters were reportedly frustrated with governance paralysis, infighting, and corruption allegations against the AAP government.
• BJP’s ‘double-engine government’ promise: Panda assured voters that with both the Centre and Delhi under BJP rule, there would be conflict-free governance and real development.

Jay Panda’s Political Journey

Before taking charge of Delhi’s election campaign, Jay Panda had already built a strong political resume. His key roles within BJP include:

• National Vice-President of BJP
• BJP’s Delhi Unit In-Charge
• Head of BJP’s Assam Unit
• BJP National Spokesperson
• Delhi Election In-Charge (2020 & 2025)

Panda was previously a member of Naveen Patnaik’s Biju Janata Dal (BJD) but joined BJP in 2019 after differences with the BJD leadership. Since then, he has emerged as one of BJP’s top strategists, playing a crucial role in Uttar Pradesh’s Lok Sabha campaign and Assam’s Assembly elections.

BJP’s Masterstroke: Deploying Panda to Delhi

In October 2024, BJP’s leadership made a strategic decision to appoint Jay Panda as the Delhi election in-charge. With 27 years of political setbacks in the capital, BJP needed a leader who could unify the party, develop a winning strategy, and execute it flawlessly.

Panda’s expertise in managing election campaigns, along with his grassroots mobilization skills, proved to be a game-changer.

According to Odisha BJP President Manmohan Samal, “Jay Panda has been a dedicated leader for years. His ability to foster unity within the party ranks ensured BJP’s grand success in Delhi.”

Key Strategies That Led to BJP’s Victory

Jay Panda employed a low-profile yet highly effective approach, focusing on:

1. Booth-Level Management

Panda strengthened BJP’s grassroots presence, ensuring:

• Efficient booth management teams in every constituency.
• Direct voter outreach programs to counter AAP’s influence.

2. Targeted Outreach & Silent Strategy

Unlike high-profile BJP leaders, Panda maintained a strategic silence, allowing party workers and local leaders to take center stage.

• His door-to-door campaigns and localized engagement helped BJP connect with diverse voter groups across Delhi.
• AAP’s campaign narrative struggled to counter BJP’s silent groundwork.

3. Focus on Governance, Not Personalities

AAP repeatedly taunted BJP for not declaring a Chief Ministerial candidate, hoping to draw them into a personality battle.

• Panda maintained BJP’s stance on collective leadership, keeping the focus on governance and development issues.
• This neutralized AAP’s attacks and allowed BJP to control the election narrative.

Jay Panda’s Track Record: A Proven Election Strategist

Delhi is not the first election victory orchestrated by Panda. His previous major success came in Assam, where he was appointed BJP’s election in-charge just 143 days before the 2021 Assembly elections. Under his leadership, BJP:

• Retained power with 75 seats
• Won 60 out of 126 assembly seats
• Became the first non-Congress party to win two successive terms in Assam

His success in Assam prepared him for the high-stakes battle in Delhi, where he once again delivered a remarkable victory for BJP.

What’s Next for BJP in Delhi?

With BJP now in power, the party has promised:

• Massive infrastructure development
• Improved public services
• Corruption-free governance

Jay Panda’s role is expected to expand within BJP’s national leadership, with political observers predicting more significant responsibilities in the future.

For now, Delhi’s political landscape has been reshaped, and the man behind the victory, Jay Panda, has solidified his reputation as BJP’s election mastermind.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are Nukleus Office, Shreenath Paper.

The Current active IPO are Beezaasan Explotech, Swasth Foodtech, HP Telecom India.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.

Join our Finance Saathi Telegram Channel for Regular Share Market, News & IPO Update.