New talks have emerged in political circles of Gujarat that poll strategist Prashant Kishor is ready to work with congress for the upcoming Gujarat assembly elections scheduled to be held later this year.
The development comes months after negotiations between the Congress leadership and Kishor towards a broader role for him in the party failed in September last year.
The congress later signed up with a former associate of Kishor to handle its election campaigns. At the same time, Kishor became a key point person for Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress.
However, Kishor’s latest pitch is said to be only a one-time offer to work on the Gujarat elections with no further commitment.
The party is yet to take a call on Kishor’s proposal, which also came up during a meeting held by Rahul Gandhi with Gujarat Congress leaders on Tuesday.
According to the speculation, some Gujarat Congress leaders are keen to work with Kishor. However, as per the tradition of congress, Rahul Gandhi will have the final say.
Last year, Prashant Kishor held several rounds of discussions with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi. In fact, after images of the strategist going to Rahul Gandhi’s home surfaced, his entry into the grand old party was said to be all but done.
However, a breakdown in negotiations emerged alongside a series of attacks by Prashant Kishor, who said that it was not the divine right of any individual to lead the congress, especially when the party has lost more than 90 % of the elections in the last ten years.
Kishor has made it clear in the past that he believes congress does have a role to play in the opposition, but it cannot be achieved under the current leadership.
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