New Delhi:
Election strategist Prashant Kishor had another round of what was essentially a job interview today at Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s home in Delhi. Apart from the team that would evaluate his proposal, there were two more leaders today: Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, chief ministers of the last two Congress-ruled states. A report on the matter is expected within 72 hours, Congress said.
Today’s meeting – the fourth with Mr Kishor in recent days – was also attended by senior leaders Jairam Ramesh, Ambika Soni, KC Venugopal and Ms Gandhi.
After the meeting, party spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said the party is “evaluating” Prashant Kishore’s proposals. “The input of several others is also under discussion and a final report must be submitted to the president of Congress within 72 hours,” he added.
While Mr. Kishor — or PK — is known as an election winner, his goals for Congress include nothing less than the rejuvenation of the 137-year-old party that is practically destroyed.
So the Congress wants to make a collective decision, even if the last decision is made by Sonia Gandhi.
Initially, most Congress leaders had downplayed Mr Kishor’s proposals by saying it was just a one-time proposal for Gujarat. Only later did Mr Kishor’s organization, IPAC, say it was about rejuvenating Congress and a strategy for the 2024 general election. There is also the issue of Mr Kishor’s entry into the party – the talks for which were not available last year.
The Congress’ wariness stems from Mr. Kishor’s big-bang approach, which Gandhis says could antagonize some leaders, especially those of the Old Guard.
His entry had thwarted some of the Trinamool Congress, including Suvendu Adhikaru, Mamata Banerjee’s then-close aide, who then joined the BJP, accompanied by a number of party leaders.
In the congress, the committee members told DailyExpertNews that the strength of Mr Kishor is data analysis and it will be very useful to use it to the advantage of the party. Yet there is a chunk of dissidents that the election strategist does not like to have on board.
Mr Kishor’s entry is also seen as an additional burden for the Gandhis, who are already dealing with disagreements from some of the party leadership.
“We have also used others and we need to see what needs to be done,” said Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot, who is known as a loyalist of the Gandhi family.