The week-long hype created in the political circles following intensive talks between the Congress and political strategist Prashant Kishor about his plans for revival of the party and his own role in it have ended in an anti-climax, with the poll pundit declining party president Sonia Gandhi’s invitation to join the party and become a part of an Empowered Action Group 2024 set up by her.
Amid speculations that he was likely to join hands with the Congress, Prasanth Kishor declined the offer to join the grand old party as part of its empowered action group.
In a tweet posted on his official account, Kishor said: “I declined the generous offer of #congress to join the party as part of the EAG & take responsibility for the elections. In my humble opinion, more than me the party needs leadership and collective will to fix the deep rooted structural problems through transformational reforms.
Earlier, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also confirmed the same and said in a tweet: “Following a presentation & discussions with Sh. Prashant Kishor, Congress President has constituted a Empowered Action Group 2024 & invited him to join the party as part of the group with defined responsibility. He declined. We appreciate his efforts & suggestion given to party.”
According to sources, there were some reservations in the party with regard to getting Kishor on-board, with doubts expressed about his political and ideological belongings. It was also said that Kishor would have to dissociate from his other political clients if he wanted to become a Congress insider.
It is understood that the Gandhi siblings, Priyanka and Rahul were in favour of giving Kishor a chance, but the counsel from a sizable chunk of senior leadership was that caution has to be exercised in deciding his role and the existing hierarchy could not be played havoc with.
Also, there was discontent in the Congress over Kishor-founded I-PAC firming up a deal with the party’s rival in Telangana, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi, even as he was involved in discussions with the Congress’ leadership.
It was also said that Kishor was upset as he failed to get green-signal for his move that he should be given `free hand’ in deciding alliance partner and also candidate selections in critical states. His proposal of Congress having alliance with parties like TMC, YSRCP and TRS, for whom presently he is poll advisor, failed to receive any positive response from those parties.
