Capt Amarinder picks Prashant Kishor for Punjab poll plan

Election strategist Prashant Kishor, who has helped several politicians win elections, will now work with Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. The CM took to Twitter to announce that Kishor has joined him as his Principal Advisor, nearly 12 months before the northern state goes to polls.

With this, Kishor’s efforts, which were going on for the last six months, came to fruition. Kishor will get the rank and status of a Cabinet minister and will take a token honorarium of Rs 1 as pay.

In the tweet, Captain Amarinder said, “Happy to share that @PrashantKishor has joined me as my Principal Advisor. Look forward to working together for the betterment of the people of Punjab!”

Another tweet of the Punjab government said, “#PunjabCabinet clears the appointment of Shri @PrashantKishor as Principal Advisor to the Chief Minister @capt_amarinder Singh in the rank and status of a Cabinet Minister.”

Kishor will be putting in place a comprehensive electoral strategy for the Congress in Punjab. Now, Kishor will be looking forward to entering the team of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for the Uttar Pradesh polls.

However, it will depend on the results of West Bengal and Punjab. Kishor is claiming Mamata Banerjee’s victory in West Bengal polls. Normally, Kishor is seen working with the party which happens to be in a strong winning position. As regards Punjab, Amarinder Singh appears to be on a strong footing, with the Akalis getting weak.

Informed sources say that like previously, BJP and Sangh might indirectly help Amarinder Singh in the upcoming Assembly elections. It is certain that Kishor will have his eyes on UP now. Even last time, apart from helping Amarinder Singh, Kishor was active in UP as well. Congress did get success in Punjab, but its performance in UP was miserable. Kishor does not go by any ideology. He will be helping Congress in Punjab, but in Bengal he will be against it, as he is still with the TMC there. Even in Delhi, he had helped Kejriwal against the Congress.

After the bad experience in Uttar Pradesh, Rahul Gandhi is never in favour of Kishor. Moreover, UP leaders do not subscribe to Kishor being the advisor of the party in the state. But despite these reservations, Amarinder allowed Kishor’s entry in Punjab.

What is believed is that the Congress will see a lot of upheaval following the results of five state elections. The party’s dissenters are already up in arms against the high command, leading to internal battles getting worse. A tussle between one of the dissenters Anand Sharma and Bengal PCC chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury over alliance in West Bengal has given ample indications about what is in store for the Congress. If Kerala, Assam and Tamil Nadu results suit Congress, then Rahul Gandhi will have his own way. But if results are not favourable, then the party will have to be dependent on others. This will be a situation that Prashant Kishor will try to take advantage from.