Decode Politics: Why Prashant Kishor met Chandrababu Naidu

Is Kishor advising Chandrababu Naidu?

At present, the TDP is being advised by a firm, Showtime Consulting, that is run by Kishor’s former associates Robbin Sharma and Shantanu Singh. According to sources, they approached him to boost their efforts to revive the TDP’s electoral fortunes. The TDP was wiped out in the 2019 Assembly and Lok Sabha polls, managing to win only 24 of the 175 Assembly seats and two of the 25 Lok Sabha constituencies.

“We wanted his expertise on board. We have been doing a good job with the TDP’s campaign but wanted one big final push in the last leg of the campaign. His experience will help us immensely,” said an associate with Showtime Consulting. Another associate said Lokesh’s “Yuva Galam” padayatra was Kishor’s brainchild.

A TDP leader from Vijayawada said on the condition of anonymity that Kishor’s addition would boost the party’s chances. “Apart from his vast experience in political consulting, the biggest advantage will be that Kishor knows the functioning of the YSRCP very well,” he said. Kishor had powered Jagan’s campaign in the 2019 elections.

How did YSRCP and I-PAC react?

Reactions came thick and fast from the ruling party on Saturday. Irrigation minister A Rambabu posted on X, “When the (building) material itself is defective what can the mason do?”

State Housing Minister Jogi Ramesh said, “They (Kalyan and Kishor) will remove Chandrababu. The people of this state have already removed Chandrababu in 2019 and they are ready to uproot TDP as well as Jana Sena.”

On social media, Kishor’s former company posted, “I-PAC has been working in collaboration with @YSRCParty since last year. Together, we’re dedicated to working tirelessly until @ysjagan secures a thumping victory again in 2024 and continues his unwavering efforts to better the lives of the people of Andhra Pradesh.”

Will Kishor have any effect?

A section of TDP leaders is upbeat about following Kishor’s meeting with their party chief. “His entry has energised the cadre. They had already been upbeat after Lokesh’s padayatra but now the energy will be even more. Everybody has seen his strategising across the country. It will definitely boost our chances,” said a TDP leader.

A section of party leaders, however, is worried about their suggestions not being taken seriously anymore. “We have seen what happened in Bengal. He is known to run the party. Our party has been very democratic and now I feel our suggestions may not be taken as seriously as before,” said another TDP functionary.

Kishor’s three-hour meeting with Naidu put I-PAC on its toes. A senior associate at the firm said, “We did not think Kishor would be our competition. Though Showtime is a formidable opponent, what Kishor brings to the table is a cut above the rest.” Strategies for the YSRCP would be carefully altered, he added. Another associate said it was too early to gauge if the strategist would succeed in trumping his “former friend”.

Have Kishor and I-PAC fallen out?

According to highly placed sources in I-PAC, the discontent between Kishor and his former company has been going on for months. Differences between the current management and Kishor stem from resource allocation. “There is an ongoing discord between PK (Prashant Kishor) and the current management, which believes that the company’s funds have been diverted more to Bihar (for Kishor’s Jan Suraaj Yatra),” said a top associate at I-PAC on the condition of anonymity. Jagan is also said to have been unhappy about Kishor’s absence from his campaign.

After leading the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to victory in the 2021 Assembly elections, Kishor announced his “retirement” from political consultancy and started the Jan Suraaj Yatra in Bihar.