After much speculation, election strategist Prashant Kishor has joined Janata Dal United (JDU). His decision may come as surprise to many as he was actively courted by both BJP and Congress ahead of Lok Sabha elections 2019. However, Kishor who is no longer willing to be merely a strategist has taken the plunge into active politics.
Kishor formally joined JD(U) in presence of Bihar CM and party chief Nitish Kumar ahead of national executive meeting. Kishor is expected to drive the negotiation talks with BJP over seat sharing in 2019 polls. Kishor who is credited with making winning strategies for BJP in 2014 Lok Sabha polls and JD(U) in 2015 Assembly polls will be the de-facto Number 2 in the party. Reacting to Kishor's inclusion in the party, Nitish Kumar said that 'he is the future'.
Recently Kishor revealed that he is in touch with Narendra Modi and JD(U) will hope that he brings his rapport to good use while negotiation seats with BJP for Lok Sabha polls. Kishor took to Twitter to announce that he will be starting a new journey today.
Prashant Kishor had also worked with Congress during the 2017 UP Assembly polls where he tasted bitter defeat. He started his career in election strategy in 2012 and helped then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi. He was also instrumental in planning Modi's iconic 2014 campaign. As Mahagathbandhan gains ground in Bihar, it will be Prashant Kishor's job to stem the rot, so that NDA can sweep the crucial battleground state.
Kishore last week revealed that he had never met Prime Minister Modi from March 2015 till last year, when the two reconnected, at the time of the demise of the former's mother. He even revealed that the two had a little disagreement over the lateral entry of people into the government, following which Kishore decided to leave the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) camp.
Prime Minister Modi was very receptive to the idea of lateral entry but I was perhaps in a hurry. I wanted to get it done in two or three months but he was new in his role as a prime minister and wanted to settle down first," he said.
Talking about 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls, where he helped the Congress party, Kishore said that the biggest political challenge was a revival of the Congress.
With Agency inputs
