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BIG STORY APRIL 29, 2022 | The Indian Eye 4

INDIAN NATIONAL CONGRESS

The Last Strategy?

Famous poll strategist Prashant Kishor may join or plan the Grand Old Party’s election

strategy for 2024. He may even join the party. Why has India’s oldest party turned to Kishor to

plan its future? Can they both work together?

OUR BUREAU
New Delhi/Kolkata
ast week, the capital was rife
with rumors and specula-
Ltions as election poll strate-
gist Prashant Kishor met Congress
chief Sonia Gandhi at her residence.
This was their second meeting in the
last three days amid speculation that
Kishor may join the Congress. Kishor
had met Sonia Gandhi at her resi-
dence on Saturday. The meeting on
Saturday was also attended by Ra-
hul and Priyanka Gandhi along with
a group of senior leaders including
Mallikarjun Kharge, AK Antony, Jai-
ram Ramesh, Ajay Maken, Ambika
Soni and general secretary (organisa-
tion) KC Venugopal.
After the recent poll debacle in
five states, Congress is seeking to re-
start negotiations with Kishor. The
results of five Assembly polls came as
a shock to Congress which was hoping
to do well to revive its prospects for
the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and to
fend off the emerging challenge from Prashant Kishor with Rahul Gandhi
the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and
Trinamool Congress to replace it as general elections. While sources have indicated Gandhi’s 10 Janpath residence. This
the fulcrum of anti-BJP politics in the Kishore has clearly said that spe- that the strategist will be joining the is the third meeting between Sonia
country. cific strategy should be formulated Congress party, Kishor, however, has Gandhi and Prashant Kishor in the
The meeting was held amid the with respect to certain states like Ut- specifically said that he does not want last four days amid speculation that
buzz of Kishor joining the Congress tar Pradesh Bihar and Odisha where to hold any post and will be content the poll strategist may join the Con-
party. Venugopal later said that Kishor he wants Congress Party to work on a with whatever role the Congress party gress. The first meeting took place on
had given a detailed presentation with war footing basis and not form any al- gives him. The poll analyst had earlier April 16 while the second was held on
a road map for the 2024 General elec- liance. “But the party leadership is yet fallen out with the Congress after sev- April 18.
tions. Answering queries, he said the to take a call on this because the party eral rounds of talks, the most recent According to the sources, two
role of Kishor in the Congress party has a strong alliance with the Rash- after the win of Mamata Banerjee in more such meetings are scheduled in
will be known within a week. triya Janata Dal (RJD) in Bihar. In West Bengal. the coming days. These meetings are
According to sources, Kishor, certain states like Odisha, only a sin- On Friday, the Congress top also taking place in the backdrop of
in his presentation, suggested that gle Member of Parliament has been brass, including interim president Congress’ poll preparations for Guja-
Congress should fight alone in Uttar elected in the 2019 general elections Sonia Gandhi, was holding another rat and Himachal Assembly elections
Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha, and it and in Uttar Pradesh recently in the meeting with Prashant Kishor. Sourc- this year.
should form alliances in Tamil Nadu, Assembly polls Congress loss the plot es said that Congress leaders, includ- Amid speculations about the poll
West Bengal and Maharashtra to very badly. Kishor’s belief that if the ing Kamal Nath, Digvijaya Singh, strategist joining the Congress, lead-
which Rahul Gandhi has agreed. Congress party follows a road map, Mukul Wasnik, KC Venugopal, Jai- ers of Trinamool Congress (TMC)
Kishor is learnt to have said that then there will be a turning point in ram Ramesh, AK Antony, Ambika and Bengal BJP unit argue that
Congress should focus on 370 Lok the 2024 elections,” a Congress leader Soni and Randeep Surjewala, are also Kishor’s entry into Congress won’t
Sabha constituencies for the 2024 said on anonymity. taking part in the meeting at Sonia Continued at next page... >>

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