Master polling strategist Prashant Kishor played a major role in the Congressional victory in Punjab in the 2017 polls (F
Chandigarh:
Four years after helping Congress to power in Punjab with a major victory in the Assembly elections, Prashant Kishor has returned to the state, signing as “senior adviser” to Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, who tweeted to say that the two “They would work for the betterment of the people of Punjab.”
“Happy to share that Prashant Kishor has joined me as my senior advisor. We look forward to working together for the betterment of the people of Punjab!” Singh tweeted on Monday.
Kishor told NDTV that the offer had been on the table for the past year and that Amarinder Singh is “like family.” “I can’t say ‘no’ to him …” Kishor said.
Happy to share that @PrashantKishor has joined me as my lead advisor. We look forward to working together for the betterment of the people of Punjab!
– Captain Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) March 1, 2021
The Chief Minister’s Office tweeted shortly after, saying that Kishor would get the rank of cabinet minister (with associated perks) and a “token fee of Re 1 only.
#PunjabCabinet clarifies the appointment of Shri @PrashantKishor as Senior Advisor to the Chief Minister @capt_amarinder Singh in the rank and status of cabinet minister. pic.twitter.com/h7bTK9qKdD
– CMO Punjab (@CMOPb) March 1, 2021
Punjab is scheduled to hold Assembly elections in early 2022.
Congress came to power in 2017 after winning 77 of the 117 offered seats; The victory represented a significant increase from 2012, when he won 46 and was defeated by the Akali Dal-BJP alliance.
Kishor and his IPAC, or Indian Political Action Committee, played a major role in that victory, creating a series of campaign sketches that struck a chord with voters, including ‘Coffee with the Captain (Amarinder Singh)’ to attract younger voters.
The victory in Punjab, however, was preceded by a showdown with Congress in Uttar Pradesh; he retired, reportedly due to differences in strategy, in late 2016.
Congress appears to be in a strong position in Punjab ahead of next year’s elections; the party made a clean sweep of seven municipal corporations in polls of local bodies held early last month.
sss p> The victory at Bathinda, a stronghold of Akali Dal which is represented in the Lok Sabha by former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was a highlight.
Punjab’s Chief Minister Amarinder Singh tweeted to say that Prashant Kishor had joined (Archive)
It is the first time in more than 50 years that Congress controls that municipal body. Singh said the victories represent Punjab’s rejection of the Akalis, the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party.
History has been made today!
Bathinda will get a mayor of Congress for the first time in 53 years!
Thank you to ALL the residents of Bathinda.Congratulations to the people of Bathinda for a spectacular victory.
Congratulations to all the Congressional candidates and workers who worked hard for this day. pic.twitter.com/Xvczq5MjfU– Manpreet Singh Badal (@MSBADAL) February 17, 2021
A good result in local polls aside, Singh will be mindful of the challenge the BJP will pose in the run-up to and during the 2022 elections, and will hope that Kishor can replicate his great record of success in the state elections. . .
Currently, Mr. Kishor and his IPAC are working hard in Bengal, where he is helping Mamata Banerjee defuse a fierce defiance from the BJP with the Assembly elections to be held in a record eight phases starting on 27th of March.
He is also working with the head of DMK, MK Stalin, in Tamil Nadu, where elections will take place on April 6, where he also hopes to overthrow the BJP (which is in power with AIADMK).
Last year, Kishor signed on to help Nitish Kumar maintain his position in the November elections (and was named No. 2 in the party), but was expelled after openly criticizing his stance on the citizenship law.
He emerged as one of Kumar’s fiercest critics when the JDU failed to concede a numerical advantage to both BJP ally and Tejashwi Yadav’s rival, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
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