Priyanka Gandhi not a challenge for 2019, but may be later: Prashant Kishor

Election strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor on Monday dismissed newly inducted Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi's as a "challenge" in the coming Lok Sabha polls. Stating that no one could turn around the results in two or three months, he said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was coming back to power at the Centre in 2019.

Kishor was interacting with media persons in Patna on Monday, and said, "I don't see Priyanka Gandhi as a major challenge so far as 2019 polls are concerned. Not because whether she is able or not, but it is not possible for any person to have a major impact on the poll results in two or three months. But, if you consider the long run, she is a very big face, a very big name… If she works and the public accepts her, then that will have an impact."

When asked if the public will see Priyanka as a replacement of her brother and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Kishor answered in negative. "Absolutely not. Rahul is Congress president and as far as my understanding goes, Priyanka is one of the many general secretaries of the party. She is just beginning under Rahul's leadership, so there is no question of replacement," he said.

Earlier on January 23, when Priyanka's induction as the party general secretary was announced, Kishor had termed it the most awaited entries in Indian politics and extended his best wishes to her. Kishor, while working as a poll strategist for the Congress during 2017 Uttar Pradesh elections, was in favour of Priyanka helming the campaign and said her entry in politics had changed the situation on ground to some extent.

Kishor, who is also the vice president of the ruling Janata Dal (United) in Bihar, sought to clarify his recent meeting with Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray, saying he met him as a part of the NDA, not a poll strategist. "Both parties are a part of the NDA and the Lok Sabha polls were discussed on the occasion," he said.

On talks about JD(U) chief and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar being a prime ministerial candidate of the NDA, Kishor said at present it was very clear who the PM was. "Narendra Modi is the PM. Nitishji is a big leader and plays an important role in the alliance, but he is not the prime ministerial face of the coalition," he said.

Kishor also made it clear that the NDA constituents is Bihar will finalise the final seat plan before the Mahagathbandhan parties reached an agreement on it.