After having handed the victory in the 2021 assembly elections, the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met political strategist Prashant Kishor for a discussion on major internal changes in the party. However, Kishor who played an instrumental role in the TMC’s return to power in Bengal is assumed to join the Congress party soon. Well, it is quite evident that Mamata wants to become the tallest opposition leader. Thus, Kishor joining Congress could be a masterstroke by Mamata to ensure the latter’s role in national politics.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi had met Prashant Kishor on July 13 in presence of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Since the meeting, Rahul Gandhi has been lobbying for Prashant Kishor and discussed with many leaders if Kishor’s arrival would benefit the Congress.
“Rahul Gandhi sought the views of senior leaders on Prashant Kishor’s proposal to join the Congress. Most of the people were of the opinion that his arrival would strengthen the party,” a source said.
As per a senior party functionary, “Prashant Kishor has already publicly said that no anti-BJP front can be formed at the national level without the Congress. If he joins the Congress, it will benefit the party. The Congress high command has to decide what their role will be in such a situation.”
It has been reported that Prashant Kishor and his I-PAC will work with Mamata Banerjee and the party’s all India general secretary Abhishek Banerjee till 2026. He will also play a significant role in the 2024 Lok Sabha poll to ensure the political impact of Mamata Banerjee.
Earlier, Prashant Kishor had advised TMC Chief to abolish the post of party observer in 2020 because of the reports claiming that party observers are conniving with BJP leaders and trying to weaken the party.
As reported by TFI, Mamata is up with a plan for the opposition to overtake the tidal Modi wave. However, if Congress adheres to this approach, it could be obliterated from the face of Indian politics. Moreover, the plan will destroy Congress’ political outreach.
Read more: Mamata wants to become the tallest opposition leader and she has a plan to destroy the Congress
Also, Mamata, through this plan, wants to become the face of opposition and then the Prime Minister. Rahul Gandhi, on the contrary, does not seem to agree with the plan. Thus, in order to pitch the Gandhis and work towards the larger political structure for Banerjee, Kishor may work as Mamata’s agent after joining the aged old party.
Mr Kishor is India’s best-known political consultant and strategist. BBC reported that since 2011, Mr Kishor and his political consultancy firm have struck success with eight of nine elections in which they have run campaigns for different parties. Kishor is known for managing poll campaigns of leaders without any emotional or ideological attachment to the party and the leader whose campaign he is managing.
As a vocal critic of the BJP government, he believes that the BJP, which is supposed to seek a third term in 2024, is not invincible. “There are options and enough examples to show that with the right strategy and efforts they could be defeated,” he said.
In a minimal way, Prashant Kishor and Mamta Banerjee walk hand in hand because of their ideologies against BJP and they have come together to fight against the government. Congress, unaware of the fact that they are being used by the TMC chief as per her convenience, is all set to welcome Kishor into the party. Essentially, the Congress party will shoot itself in the foot.
