PrashantKishor’s meeting with former Congress president Rahul Gandhi and AICC generalsecretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday has triggered speculations inpolitical circles whether he is joining Congress or are they gearing up for a ‘unitedopposition’ to defeat BJP in 2024.
Accordingto sources, Gandhis and Prashant Kishor may have discussed a formal role forthe latter in the party as they prepare for upcoming state and nationalelections.
Themeeting took place at Rahul Gandhi’s residence, where Sonia Gandhi had joinedvirtually. Also, KC Venugopal and Harish Rawat are said to be the part ofmeeting as they were seen entering Rahul’s residence.
Purpose of themeeting
Giventhat Kishor is advising Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, themeeting was initially thought to be about the Punjab Congress's crisis.
However,it was discovered that the meet was not about the Punjab or Uttar Pradeshelections.
Accordingto sources, the meeting was about “something broader," implying that pollstrategist Prashant Kishor may be eyeing a key position in preparing theCongress for the 2024 election.
Detailingabout the meeting, a party leader said, “Kishor is an important politicalfigure. Of course, when he meets with the party leadership, the discussion willbe national in nature, not just about one state.”
Thestrategies for establishing a unified national alliance against the BJP for the2024 Lok Sabha elections were discussed. Also, Kishor told the Congressleadership that if the opposition parties joined together in 2022, the BJP'spresidential candidate might be defeated.
DespiteKishor's dissatisfying experience with Congress in the past, there are rumorsthat he may join the party.
However,Prashant Kishor clarified on Wednesday that his meeting with Gandhis was only a"courtesy meeting", but the suspicion continues.
What lies ahead forKishor and Congress?
Duringthe Bengal Assembly elections, Kishor had told in an interview with NDTV thathe wanted to quit. He had said, “I don't want to continue doing what I'm doing.Enough is enough. It's time for me to take a break and pursue other interests.I'd like to leave this space.”
Butnow, poll strategist Kishor is said to be playing an important role in Punjaband Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections next year and had met several partyleaders in recent months.
Hismeeting with Congress leadership yesterday was significant because it indicatesthat Congress is willing to engage with Kishor formally rather than throughback channels. Kishor also sees Congress as a necessary component of anynational anti-BJP coalition.
Forthe upcoming 2024 elections, Congress is seeking Kishor's advice on how tosettle its internal crisis and become battle-ready. However, the party'simmediate challenge is to resolve the leadership crisis and balance competingfactions in election-bound states such as Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Goa.
Lookingat the bigger picture, it wouldn’t be wrong to say that the political situationhas shifted in the midst of the pandemic, the anti-farm law protests, along theBengal election. The opposition now has a possibility to defeat the BJP in2024. Both Prashant Kishor's initiatives and Congress's sudden urgency are partof the same process.