The Indian National Congress has enlisted Sunil Kanugolu, a well-known poll strategist, to lead its campaign for the upcoming Maharashtra State Assembly elections. Reports indicate that this decision followed a meeting between Maharashtra Congress leaders and Kanugolu in Delhi earlier this week.
Boost for Maharashtra Congress
The Maharashtra Congress has been invigorated after increasing its Lok Sabha seats from one to thirteen in the recent 2024 general elections. Following this success, the state Congress leadership was eager to secure Kanugolu’s expertise. His strategies were pivotal in the Congress party’s victories in Telangana and Karnataka.
Successful Strategies in Karnataka
Kanugolu centered the Karnataka Congress campaign around allegations against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He highlighted claims that BJP leaders were demanding a 40 percent cut from contractors.
One notable campaign initiative was the ‘pay CM’ protests in Karnataka, echoing the name of the popular digital payments app ‘Paytm.’ This campaign effectively stirred public anger against the BJP, helping Congress gain voter support.
Effective Campaign in Telangana
Kanugolu employed similar tactics in Telangana, aiding the Congress in outperforming the ruling Bharatiya Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in the state assembly elections. The Congress campaign in Telangana focused on the Meddigadda Reservoir’s cracks and alleged large-scale corruption in the Kaleshwaram Irrigation Project.
Kanugolu advised the Congress workers to use visual symbolism by installing boxes with images of BRS leader and state Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, suggesting he was personally benefiting from corruption. Volunteers inserted fake notes into these boxes, symbolizing the alleged corruption.
Kanugolu’s Campaign Firm and Connections
Sunil Kanugolu runs the Bengaluru-based campaign firm Inclusive Minds. People regard him as a close associate of Rahul Gandhi, a prominent Congress leader and member of the Nehru-Gandhi family. Before establishing his own firm, Kanugolu worked with renowned poll strategist Prashant Kishore, helping manage the BJP’s 2014 general election campaign.
Conclusion
The Indian National Congress hopes that Sunil Kanugolu’s proven strategies will replicate the success seen in other states, boosting its chances in the upcoming Maharashtra State Assembly elections. His previous campaigns in Karnataka and Telangana demonstrate his ability to create impactful and resonant political strategies.
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