New Delhi (18.11.2025): Union Education Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Dharmendra Pradhan who was in-charge of the Bihar elections has delivered yet again in Bihar Assembly elections after bringing home the BJP in Haryana Assembly elections for three consecutive terms with a better mandate.
The NDA registered a historic win under Pradhan’s leadership as election in-charge of Bihar. Pradhan, a former general secretary of the party, who is known for his simple and composed behaviour avoiding any spotlight. The Union Education minister was entrusted with the responsibility of election management on September 25, 2025 with very little time to manage any elections.
His rapport with the top BJP leadership especially with Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi brought this crucial job to him and he delivered one of the toughest and big electoral successes to the NDA. Working in close tandem with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he not only strategized but also managed rebel candidates and allies who could have harmed the prospects of the NDA in the state. His hard work and acumen helped the NDA to win 202 seats in 243-member Bihar Assembly.
Dharmendra Pradhan, son of a former BJP leader and former Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government Dr Debendra Pradhan, started his political career as Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad worker. He became secretary and then general secretary of the BJP before becoming the longest-serving Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas of the country. He is now serving as the Union Education Minister. His personal rapport with Nitish Kumar, especially as his father was considered a close friend of the Bihar Chief Minister too helped him to deal with many issues smoothly.
For many in the party, he is the “Ujjwala Man” for his role in implementing the flagship schemes of the Centre including the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY). Moreover, his strategic abilities and organisational skills have ensured his success as the election-in-charge in multiple states over the years. Coordination was a major issue, and Pradhan played a key role in keeping everyone together. The seat distribution, for instance, Pradhan ensured that everyone was on board.
Whenever there used to be any disagreement or tension in the NDA alliance, the point person for the BJP used to be Pradhan. He is a patient implementor. It is not just about being in-charge. He has always maintained a close relationship with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar too to make Bihar a success story.
Some key points:
- Besides many other factors, the strategy of Pradhan has also been the reason for the successful run in Bihar
- The NDA had won the biggest success in Bihar in 2010 by winning 206 seats under Pradhan only
- Pradhan had been instrumental in winning elections in difficult states for the BJP by making such a strategy where ideology, management and reaching out to people was properly balanced.
- His success stories included Uttarakhand in 2017, Uttar Pradesh in 2022, and Haryana 2024.
- He played a crucial role in Odisha by getting 24-year-old BJD rule replaced with the BJP government in the state.
- He is not only a Union minister but a strategist of the party who not only understands the pulse of the organisation but also understands people’s mind.
- He constantly communicates with workers and voters during the electioneering.
- He directly communicates with booth-level worker and speaks to ground-level workers before finalising any strategy.
