In his 600-slides lengthy presentation to the Congress leadership, election strategist Prashant Kishor put forward a specific route to revive the grand old party. “Forming an Empowered Action Group (EAG) to lead upcoming state elections in 2022-2023 and for the 2024 General Elections is his plan of action. For this, he needed the chairmanship of the EAG. This was the sore thumb and party veterans declined,” a highly reliable AICC source told VOI.
He wanted to make Priyanka Gandhi the AICC president, and Rahul Gandhi the Parliamentary Party leader. “In short, he was looking at overhauling the entire leadership structure. Not only did Soniaji, but even the G-23 leaders were not in favour,” the source highlighted.
Speaking to VOI, Gujarat Congress social media workers shared that “they were eagerly looking forward to PK’s induction into the Congress and to learn social media strategizing campaigns from him.”
Significantly, Kishor put the spotlight on digital campaigning and enhancing a pro-Congress new media ecosystem. “Kishor stressed the need to counter the prevalent social media consciousness, which inclines towards the BJP,” the source stated that PK’s joining Congress would also leave I-PAC a headless body.
Another senior AICC leader told VOI: “PK’s summarised plan is with us. An eight-member group studied it and even approved his electoral strategies. But it wasn’t welcomed by the majority to give him a free hand position.” The leader also noted that apprehensions were rife about “PK and I-PAC’s possible unholy nexus in the long run.”
Notwithstanding all this, PK is known to have managed a remarkable political campaign for NaMO’s maiden prime ministerial run in 2014, JD(U) Nitish Kumar’s fight to retain chief ministership in Bihar in 2015, YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tussle to hold onto power in Andhra Pradesh in 2019 and recently, for TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee’s campaign which won her the third consecutive Assembly elections in West Bengal in 2021.
The Congress has announced that it will hold a three-day brainstorming session, or Chintan Shivir, from May 13 to May 15 in Udaipur, Rajasthan, to discuss the strategy for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There will be various panels evaluating the current social, political and economic challenges in the country.
Also Read: Prashant Kishor Key To Congress’ Gujarat Plans But With Naresh and Hardik As Vital Players
