By: The Banten Post Editorial Board
In the dynamic and often unforgiving landscape of Banten politics, one name consistently commands respect and attention: Iti Octavia Jayabaya. Affectionately known by the public and her political peers as “Teh Iti,” she has proven herself to be much more than just a regional figurehead. As the Chairwoman of the Regional Leadership Council (DPD) of the Democratic Party in Banten since 2017, Teh Iti has transformed the party into a formidable political machine.
With her current leadership period drawing to a close and the next Regional Deliberation (Musda) approaching, it is time to objectively evaluate her political portfolio. The data from the 2024 political year provides a clear picture: under Teh Iti’s command, the Democratic Party in Banten continues to adapt, expand at the provincial level, and dictate the political rhythm.
A Solidifying Provincial Legislative Power
The most concrete metric of a DPD chairman’s success is provincial legislative seats. The 2024 General Election served as a rigorous test, and Teh Iti delivered exceptional results.
Under her strategic guidance, the Democratic Party successfully increased its representation in the Banten Provincial Parliament (DPRD Banten). The party grew its presence from 9 seats in the 2019 election to 11 seats in 2024. This growth is highly significant as it demonstrates a solid party engine, effective localized campaigning, and a stronger appeal to grassroots voters across Banten’s electoral districts. The party’s foundation in the region has proven to be increasingly robust in Teh Iti’s hands.
The 2024 Regional Election (Pilkada) Masterclass
While provincial legislative growth highlights her organizational capacity, Teh Iti’s true political brilliance peaked during the 2024 Regional Elections (Pilkada). Her sharp intuition in navigating complex party coalitions positioned the Democratic Party as a primary kingmaker.
The most monumental achievement of her 2024 strategy was the Banten Gubernatorial Election. Teh Iti boldly positioned the Democratic Party as a core proponent within the Advanced Banten Coalition (Koalisi Banten Maju). By officially endorsing and massively mobilizing the party engine for the Andra Soni – Dimyati Natakusumah ticket, she took a tactical step that yielded a historic outcome. The victory of this ticket did not merely secure the Governor’s office; this maneuver effectively toppled the long-ruling Banten dynasty, while marking a new era for the province’s development direction.
Her tactical success cascaded to the regency and city levels, securing vital executive seats:
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Defending the Stronghold in Lebak: Lebak has always been a Democratic fortress. Teh Iti ensured it remained unshaken by successfully placing senior Democratic cadre Amir Hamzah as the winning Vice Regent, alongside Mochamad Hasbi Asyidiki Jayabaya.
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Absolute Victory in Pandeglang: Understanding the importance of Pandeglang as the second-largest voter base, Teh Iti directed the party into a solid grand coalition. This move secured a decisive, absolute victory for the Raden Dewi Setiani – Iing Andri Supriadi ticket.
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Conquering the Urban Demographics in Tangerang City: Proving that the Democratic Party’s winning engine is also adaptive beyond rural bases, Teh Iti’s coalition strategy successfully backed the winning ticket of Sachrudin – Maryono Hasan in the highly populated, metropolitan area of Tangerang City.
Looking Ahead to the Next Musda
The combination of expanding provincial legislative seats in the DPRD and a clean sweep track record in the 2024 Pilkada is an incredibly solid portfolio that is hard to match. Teh Iti has successfully synchronized the party’s internal machinery with the flexibility to build effective external coalitions.
As the Democratic Party in Banten prepares for its upcoming Musda, this blue report card serves as concrete proof of proven leadership. The heroine called Teh Iti has delivered legislative winning numbers, secured a series of executive seats, and made strategic political history in Banten.
