Lok Sabha Elections: BJP Appoints Poll In-Charges For States, Baijayant Panda & Vinod Tawde Get Big Roles

Baijayant "Jay" Panda, the saffron party's national vice president and spokesperson, has been appointed as the poll in-charge of Uttar Pradesh.

Representational Image.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday appointed election in-charges and co-in-charges for States and Union Territories in view of the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Baijayant "Jay" Panda, the saffron party's national vice president and spokesperson, has been appointed as the poll in-charge of Uttar Pradesh, while Vinod Tawde is appointed as election in-charge of Bihar. 

PHOTO | BJP appoints state poll in-charges and co-incharges for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. pic.twitter.com/9JAqnuTuRE

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) January 27, 2024

Meanwhile, former Union Minister Prakash Javadekar has been appointed to oversee the southern state of Kerala. Vijaypal Singh Tomar has been named Odisha's election in-charge, with Lata Usendi serving as co-in-charge.

This move is viewed as a huge organisational push to bolster the BJP's position in these critical elections.

The BJP achieved a massive victory in the 2019 elections, winning 303 of the 436 seats it contested, a record 70% success percentage. This electoral achievement was fueled by the party's total vote share of 37.4 percent and an even more astounding 46.1 percent in the seats it contested. In contrast, the Congress party maintained a stable 19.5% vote share, similar with their 2014 record, resulting in 52 seats in 2019.

Who Is Baijayant "Jay" Panda?

It should be noted that on March 8, 2019, Baijayant Panda was named as the BJP's national vice-president and spokesperson, a decision that took effect immediately and was approved by then-BJP national president Amit Shah. 

This appointment emphasises Panda's position within the party and his possible impact on its strategy and objectives.

His leadership position in Uttar Pradesh is especially important considering the state's prominence in national elections.

Panda's political career includes sitting as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha, representing Odisha's Kendrapara seat, and formerly in the Rajya Sabha. 

His move to the BJP followed a period of suspension and eventual resignation from the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) owing to suspected anti-party activity. Panda has taken on a variety of roles since joining the BJP, including being made Assam's new in-charge, demonstrating his rising status within the party.