Pradeep Bhandari: From election analysis to BJP’s national media team

Renowned election analyst, senior television journalist and author Pradeep Bhandari has been given a key responsibility in the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) new national media team. The party has appointed him National Media Co-Convener. He will now be part of the BJP’s national media team alongside National Media Convenor Anil Baluni. In July 2024, the party had appointed Bhandari as a national spokesperson.

Bhandari is the founder and CEO of Jan Ki Baat and has built a distinct identity in the field of election analysis. Known for using ground surveys and electoral data to understand voter sentiment, he has worked across television journalism, anchoring and writing. He has served as News Director at India News and Consulting Editor at Republic Media Network, and has also worked as Consulting Editor at Zee News. He has also brought his election-related experience to books, including Modi Vijaygatha 2019 and Modi 3.0: Bigger, Higher, Stronger, both centred on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political journey and electoral performance.

Building a reputation through election analysis

Bhandari established himself as an election analyst through Jan Ki Baat, where election surveys and ground reporting became an important part of his work. His approach has focused on understanding voters’ issues, priorities and political preferences by engaging with them on the ground and combining public opinion with electoral data.

His efforts to gauge voter sentiment and political trends ahead of election results helped establish him as a recognised name in election analysis. Ground reporting and public opinion research across various state elections became a defining feature of his work.

Building Jan Ki Baat

Bhandari built Jan Ki Baat as an independent public opinion and election analysis platform. Its work has included ground surveys, opinion polls and exit polls aimed at understanding voter sentiment during elections.

Through Jan Ki Baat, Bhandari sought to connect electoral data with the political environment on the ground. Its model of engaging directly with voters across states and assessing their political preferences became an important part of his professional identity.

From election analysis to books

Bhandari has also presented his experience and analysis of electoral politics through books. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s political journey and electoral success have been recurring themes in his writing.

His book Modi Vijaygatha 2019 examines the 2019 Lok Sabha election and Modi’s political success. His subsequent book, Modi 3.0: Bigger, Higher, Stronger, looks at the 2024 Lok Sabha election, voter behaviour and Modi’s political popularity through the lens of election analysis.

From journalism to politics

A significant shift in Bhandari’s career came in July 2024, when the BJP appointed him as a national spokesperson. His appointment was announced by the party under the leadership of its then national president JP Nadda.

With the new role, Bhandari’s work expanded beyond election analysis and television journalism. He became a formal part of the BJP’s political communication apparatus, representing the party’s position in the media.

It marked a significant transition in his professional journey: from analysing the political landscape and voter sentiment as a journalist and election analyst to representing a political party as its official spokesperson.

New role in BJP’s national media team

Bhandari has now been appointed National Media Co-Convener as part of the BJP’s new national media team. Anil Baluni has been named National Media Convenor, while Bhandari, Ashish Usha Agarwal and Siddharth Yadav have been appointed Media Co-Convenors.

The new responsibility expands Bhandari’s role in the BJP’s organisational and political communication. While his earlier role as national spokesperson involved presenting the party’s position before the media, his new position gives him a broader role within the party’s national media set-up.

From election ground to national media strategy

Bhandari’s professional journey has taken him from journalism to election analysis, ground surveys, television journalism, anchoring and writing, and eventually into active politics.

Jan Ki Baat gave him a distinct identity in election analysis, while his television career provided experience in communicating political issues to a wider audience. His books on Narendra Modi further extended his work in electoral and political analysis.

His appointment as a BJP national spokesperson in July 2024 marked a formal shift from journalism to politics. His elevation to National Media Co-Convener now marks another step in that journey. His experience in election analysis, ground surveys, television journalism, anchoring and writing is expected to inform his role in the BJP’s national media strategy.