‘Smriti Irani no challenge in Amethi… in 2019, workers said there was no one telling them what to do’: Kishori Lal Sharma

You have managed the poll campaign for Congress and the Gandhi family for the past 40 years. What has changed for you this time?

KLS: There is not much of a change for me. We used to do electioneering with them also. The system is the same. I never did anything alone. I worked with the team, which has now taken the responsibility here. They have been working with me for the past 25-30 years. My team is the same and they have so much experience that sometimes they tell me that it is not like the old times and what new needs to be done. They have the liberty to do what they feel is right, and I am confident of their decisions. So, for me not much has changed as far as the election is concerned.

You talk of things not working like old times. How do you see this election when you have very little time to campaign as compared to your counterpart, BJP MP Smriti Irani? Rahul Gandhi lost from here five years ago.

KLS: The people of Amethi are now feeling that a mistake was made in the past and it needs to be corrected. After the defeat, Rahul ji asked me to do a review, to find out the shortcomings or if the people were angry. I found that there were two things. First of all, there was a lot of pressure from the BJP government and our workers were harassed. Secondly, there were some shortcomings from our side as well.

What were the shortcomings?

KLS: There was a lack of monitoring in that election. Workers told me that there was no one to ask them where they were going or what they were doing. Otherwise, the margin of loss was not big (55,000 votes) and would have been covered.

BJP leaders have alleged that those who led to the defeat have been made candidates.

KLS: They need to get their facts corrected. First of all, I was not in Amethi in the 2019 election. Polling in Rae Bareli on the same day and I was managing elections there. I was not here (Amethi). There was a separate team working here, which is not there now.

Words like chaprasi or worker of the Gandhi family have been used for you. How do you counter them?

KLS: Everyone in Amethi and Rae Bareli knows who I am, even those who talk about such things. I hail from a village in Hoshiarpur in Punjab. We shifted to Ludhiana, where I did my schooling and later my family settled there. Today, I have my business, which is run by my wife. I am not a salaried person but a political person, who manages his own expenses, which are not much. I am not a 5-star kind of person, therefore my expenses are very little. I have paved my way up slowly from looking after one and a half booths, to managing the election of one Vidhan Sabha to three Vidhan Sabha. Then one Lok Sabha to two Lok Sabha and then to contesting elections.

I started my political career as a Youth Congress worker in 1980 after being impressed with Rajiv Gandhi… In 1983, Rajiv ji selected some youth leaders to monitor a 20-point program and I was one of them. I had the responsibility to look after one and a half blocks. Amethi mein Dil lag gaya and I remained here. Some people call me PA to Sonia Gandhi but I have been her public representative, not a PA. Very few people know that I am a member of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee and have also been their star campaigner. I was AICC secretary in 2013, co-in-charge of Bihar with C P Joshi, when we managed the alliance in Bihar and ensured victory on 27 seats. If people are speaking without any homework, then what can I say?

Who are there in your family?

KLS: My wife. I have two daughters. One has done an MBA and is doing a job in marketing. My second daughter is an entrepreneur.

Do you feel there is infighting within the party unit?

KLS: There is infighting, but when it comes to me, it all gets settled. I am their elder brother, I can scold them, can speak with them with love. I tell them that groups are good for competition but the party should not get damaged. I sit with them and explain to them. I have to do this more with the younger generation but they understand.

Who asked you to contest the election?

KLS: Based on the feelings of the people in Amethi, I also wanted the same as what other workers wanted. But Priyanka (Gandhi) ji told me that Kishori ji this time you have to contest. She told me: ‘Kishori ji aapne humare parivar ko bahut saare election ladwaye hain, ek election humko bhi apko ladana hai.’ I accepted it. They all would be coming to campaign here. Priyanka ji has given dates, Rahul ji will also come.

You have very little time left for campaigning, while Smriti Irani has been campaigning for a long time. Some allegations have been levelled against you.

KLS: Smriti Irani is no challenge here. While the decision is to be made by the public. It is our responsibility to do the hard work. As far as allegations are concerned, I assure that I would never say anything undignified about her. If she wants to speak against me in an undignified manner, it is up to her, but I would not speak in the same manner.