Prashant Kishor, who emerged as a successful poll strategist in 2014-15 but failed miserably in 2016-17 while dealing with election strategy of different parties, plunged into active politics and joined the JD(U). He joined the Nitish Kumar-led party on Sunday just before the State executive meeting of the JD(U) at the CM residence.
There was no official word on what will be the role of Kishor in the party but in political circles there has been buzz that he might contest parliamentary election from a constituency of his choice. The 41-year-old Kishor, who hails from Buxar in Bihar, is also likely to be remain as party’s chief strategist on talks for seat sharing with allies and selection of candidates.
A visibly excited Nitish told a news channel, “He is the future (of politics), I am telling you.” All the senior leaders of JD(U) hailed his decision to join the party and said JD(U) would immensely benefit from him.
This is the first time Prashant Kishor, also called PK, has joined any political party even though he served as poll strategist of Narendra Modi, then CM of Gujarat, in 2014 Lok Sabha polls which elevated him to the office of Prime Minister but parted ways with him after the formation of NDA government at Centre and installation of Amit Shah as BJP chief. In 2015 Assembly election in Bihar he became poll
strategist of Nitish Kumar, then a bête noire of Modi, who had stitched alliance with Lalu Prasad’s RJD. The victory of the grand alliance helped Nitish retain his post.
Nitish was so impressed with Kishor’s modernized election campaigning that he appointed him as an adviser with ministerial status. But in 2017 and better part of 2018 he remained off the scene. He also failed to make a mark in UP and Uttrakhand assembly elections when he had ben roped in by the Congress.
Recently in Hyderabad he said he would no longer work as poll strategist for any party and might enter electoral politics.
Nitish’s right hand and JD(U) general secretary RCP Singh said Kishor was not new to politics but his association will definitely help the organisation. When reminded that he failed as poll strategist for Congress, he said, “No poll strategist can help if the party has no support base.”
Kishor’s critics said the victory of BJP in 2014 and that of grand alliance in Bihar in 2015 had nothing to do with poll strategy but because of public mood and support. Reacting on his decision to join JD(U), senior RJD leader Abdul Bari Siddiqui said, “Nitish is bound of lose even if 100 Prashant Kishors come to help him.”