A young man who’s faced mockery, abuse, and applause – Pradeep Bhandari and his team have achieved an impressive track record in predicting election outcomes. His success lies in decoding the pulse of the average voter. What is it, you ask? The Commune delves into conversation with Pradeep Bhandari, who talks to us about the secret sauce and methods that make him the man of the moment in election forecasting.
Pradeep Bhandari’s journey from engineering to journalism is woven with threads of passion for societal impact and a genuine desire to shape narratives. From his formative years through engineering, public policy, and theatre studies, Pradeep’s focus remained on contributing to societal welfare. The shift occurred during his time with a Haryana-based think tank, leading to the founding of Jan Ki Baat in 2017.
As the founder, Pradeep embarked on a mission beyond traditional journalism, evolving Jan Ki Baat into a groundbreaking venture in election surveys. The accuracy of predictions, notably in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh election, highlighted not just statistical prowess but a deep understanding of the nation’s pulse.
Pradeep’s journey goes beyond numbers, marked by forming a dynamic team of 100 passionate youngsters dedicated to the cause. Covering an impressive one lakh kilometres by foot across 22 states, Pradeep and his team achieved unparalleled journalistic exploration in a diverse nation.
Pradeep’s tireless on-the-ground efforts set him apart at such a young age, emphasising a commitment to a nationalist perspective. This commitment echoes the voices he encountered during extensive travels. His roles at News X, India News, and Republic, where he served as a News Director and Consulting Editor, reflect his refusal to be neutrally complacent. Pradeep’s conviction lies in voicing opinions reflective of the pulse of a nation in transition, extending beyond reporting facts.
Jan Ki Baat
Pradeep Bhandari embarked on his Jan Ki Baat journey in 2017, facing scepticism about the impact of youth in media and politics. Supported by his family, he challenged the notion that age limits capability, advocating for a change in India’s risk appetite. The 2017 Gujarat elections marked a pivotal moment when Bhandari’s accurate predictions revealed the detachment of traditional psephologists from the ground reality. Jan Ki Baat’s methodology, centred on the Probability Map of Outcome, rejects the distant analysis of a nation’s pulse, emphasising on-the-ground insights. The young and dynamic Jan Ki Baat team, combining fresh perspectives with experience, contributes to nuanced election understanding. Pradeep’s firsthand experiences – from traversing villages to decoding Bengal’s 2021 elections – depict Jan Ki Baat as more than a forecasting agency—it’s a force unravelling Indian democracy intricacies. The methodology involves general questions, understanding ground sentiments, and decoding voter psyche. Pradeep acknowledges the complexity of predicting individual voting choices but believes in the magic of combining science, art, and behavioural science. Frustrated with the lack of standards and transparency in Indian psephology, he advocates for rewriting the narrative beyond speculation and satta baazi, aiming for informed analysis.
Success Rate
For Pradeep, the honesty and integrity that should underscore journalism similarly apply to psephology. He asserts that transparency should be non-negotiable, and his commitment to factual reporting is evident in Jan Ki Baat’s track record—39 out of 43 elections accurately predicted.
Over the past eight years, he has consistently demonstrated his astute political forecasting by accurately predicting key elections across India. His track record includes successful predictions for major states like Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Delhi, Tripura, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Odisha, Telangana, Maharashtra, Haryana, Assam, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa, and more. Additionally, he has successfully attempted and predicted results in crucial by-polls, including Gorakhpur, Bawana, Phulpur, Patkura, and Narela, showcasing a remarkable proficiency in anticipating electoral outcomes.
2024 – Who Will It Be?
Now, for the all-important question – the 2024 parliamentary elections! Pradeep Bhandari feels people have already made up their minds, unanimously echoing a desire to see Prime Minister Narendra Modi return for a historic third term. His analysis, rooted in the three pillars of ground-level progress, the revival of Sanatan culture, and the elevated global image of India, paints a vivid picture of the BJP’s dominance.
In 2014, he says, Narendra Modi secured a majority when fewer knew him; by 2019, his work had elevated his popularity. In 2024, Pradeep envisions a comfortable majority, emphasising that he will be able to predict the exact figures in the coming months closer to the elections. The anticipation is not just about seat shares but an undeniable surge in the BJP’s vote share eclipsing the 2019 results. Pradeep predicts a strengthened BJP in key states like Uttar Pradesh, Telangana, and Bihar, where Nitish Kumar’s influence wanes.
On Annamalai & BJP In TN
When talking to someone like Pradeep, we surely must ask him about TN BJP and Annamalai. He offers a nuanced perspective on the BJP’s foray with Annamalai. Pradeep asserts that the BJP’s approach in Tamil Nadu signals a departure from divisive politics, emphasising consolidation over polarisation. He expresses measured optimism for the party’s prospects, highlighting the importance of allowing Annamalai the freedom to craft a narrative resonant with the people. In his view, Tamil Nadu is not just a political battleground; it’s a canvas where the BJP, led by Annamalai, is diligently establishing the foundation for a lasting political presence.
Impact Of Udhayanidhi Stalin’s Remarks
If you were wondering whether Tamil Nadu DMK’s Udhayanidhi Stalin’s “eradicate Sanatana Dharma” remarks had any impact on the lay voter, Pradeep contends that statements resonate far beyond their geographical origin in today’s interconnected age. He reveals a ground-level response that reverberated across the Hindi heartland. The candid critique of the INDI Alliance leaders becomes a tacit endorsement, leaving many questioning the political trajectory.
Will Sonia Gandhi Win Rae Bareli This Time?
Speaking of the “top” people of the Congress, Rahul Gandhi’s constituency choice and the potential shift of Sonia Gandhi from Rae Bareli hint at a strategic chess game. Pradeep boldly predicts, “I will not be surprised if Rae Bareli also, the Congress loses this time.” When asked whether the “South vs. North” narrative will have an impact, Pradeep dispels it as bunkum rhetoric, warning against its potential backfire. He repeatedly underscores the disconnect between political think tanks and the ground reality, portraying only Narendra Modi as a contender capable of challenging Narendra Modi.
His Journey Through The NorthEast
Recalling his journey through the Northeast, where he was able to predict the 2018 Tripura polls to perfection, Pradeep recounts the month and a half he spent traversing every constituency, defying conventional narratives and predicting a BJP victory against widespread scepticism. The indomitable spirit of his reporting, marked by an attack from the opposition, became a beacon of accurate foresight, resonating across the nation. Venturing further into Assam, Pradeep becomes a witness to the transformative impact of BJP’s development initiatives. He paints a vivid picture of infrastructure metamorphosis, exemplified by the evolution of airports and roads, symbolic of a Northeast undergoing a developmental renaissance. For Pradeep, the Northeast, often overlooked in the past, emerges as an integral part of India’s developmental surge under Narendra Modi’s leadership.
Stories Close To His Heart
When we asked him about an experience or a story closest to his heart, Pradeep Bhandari shared a poignant story from Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, illustrating the transformative impact of grassroots governance. Despite the political rhetoric, a 71-year-old Bhil Bhilala woman supported Modi in fulfilling his promise of providing her with a home. Anecdotes of a street food seller in Jharkhand embracing UPI payments to a cancer survivor benefiting from Ayushman Bharat in Chhattisgarh highlight the tangible changes under Modi’s governance. Beyond political affiliations, he emphasises the emergence of collective confidence, a belief Modi instilled that India is on the path to becoming a developed nation. He said, “It is not about BJP or Congress; it is about Modi.” He recalls being the lone voice on television amplifying the grievances of post-poll violence victims in Bengal and standing with Arnab Goswami amid Maharashtra’s political turmoil. Despite criticism and FIRs, Bhandari remains steadfast, proud of his journalism anchored in genuine commitment to nationalism and professional excellence. He emphatically declares, “I’m not a commercial nationalist or an opportunistic nationalist. I’m a true nationalist by heart and also professional excellence, and we have proof of that.”
Vision For A Developed India
Pradeep Bhandari envisions Jan Ki Baat as the resounding voice for India’s 130 crore people, poised to shape the nation’s narrative. With a keen focus on the upcoming 2024 elections, he aims to impact millions, positioning the platform as the definitive voice of a developed India. Going beyond electoral predictions, Bhandari commits to expanding Jan Ki Baat into a multifaceted entity, exploring strategic narratives with a comprehensive 360-degree approach. He invites the youth to actively participate in building a media legacy that resonates for decades.
Pradeep has travelled to 22 states and expressed a keen interest in exploring Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and deep Jammu and Kashmir in the future. When asked about his vision for Indore, his hometown, he says he envisions transformative growth, aspiring for it to lead central India’s development, akin to Singapore’s ascent. Bhandari champions the idea that a developed Indore will significantly contribute to a developed Madhya Pradesh and India.
For Pradeep, being a journalist means shaping the collective opinion of a nation on its path to development. As India stands at a critical juncture under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, Pradeep sees his role as a professional, politically opinionated journalist and psephologist as a critical contribution to the ongoing narrative of a rising nation. His dream is to be the voice of 100 crore Indians, actively contributing to the vision of a Developed India by 2047. Journalistically, he aims to ensure that every person in India engages with the narrative of a Developed India.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.