Why Prashant Kishor is having a tough time teaching Congress new tricks
Prashant Kishor played a key role in Narendra Modi's campaign during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he helped fashion Nitish Kumar's victory in Bihar last year. Both his stints were remarkably strain-free. His experience thus far with the Congress has been far from smooth.
Punjab PCC chief Amarinder Singh publicly ticked him off two days ago for trying to rope in two former Congressmen, Jagmeet Brar and Veer Devendra. "I am the one who takes the decisions," fumed the PCC chief. On Monday (May 16), the AICC general secretary in charge of the state, Shakeel Ahmad, sought to draw a veil over the issue, claiming both Amarinder and Kishor were working harmoniously.
"Kishor is a strategist but the political and organisational decisions are taken by the party," said Ahmad. Perhaps realising the potential of his outburst in fuelling speculation of a rift, Amarinder retracted, claiming that all was well between him and Kishor.
The latter is one the most sought after political strategists in the country with an impressive track record. He masterminded Modi's victory in the Gujarat Assembly elections in 2012, and again in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He burnished his credentials further, by scripting victory for Nitish-Lalu-Congress in Bihar. A key factor in all his previous assignments has been his access to the top leadership of the party and a largely harmonious working relationship with the party apparatus.
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| Has Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh fallen out with Kishor? |
He has only begun working with the Congress a couple of months ago and initially had found it difficult to get the party to quickly adapt to his fast-paced decision making and innovative style of functioning. "India's Grand Old Party has its own slow, ponderous decision making style, and is less nimble-footed than others in adapting to the manner in which elections are fought now," says political analyst Ashok Malik.
Senior party leaders have said that the 131-year-old party is accustomed to a particular manner of functioning and hence might be finding it difficult to adapt to the changed circumstances. "These are teething issues, whenever something new is tried, such situations arise," says a CWC member.
Kishor has not been afraid to come up with suggestions, which he believes could prove to be a game changer, for instance suggesting that Priyanka Gandhi should be persuaded to lead the party's campaign in Uttar Pradesh.
Congressmen from Uttar Pradesh, long accustomed to being given special treatment by the leadership, were initially taken aback when Kishor began attending party meetings in Lucknow. However, over time they have come around. "He has new ideas, he has a definite game plan, we should work to make it happen," said a Rajya Sabha MP. In addition to his systematic approach and ideas, what is also working in favour of Kishor is that he enjoys both access to and the confidence of the Congress leadership. He will need both in abundant measure in the days ahead.