Prashant Kishor on litmus test!

Prashant Kishor, the poll strategist, raised the curiosity of political observers across the country when he called on the Congress national general secretaries Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal, and Harish Rawat last week. Rawat, the minder for Punjab, was significant as PK is the advisor of the Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh. Though dubbed as a courtesy meeting, PK went to untangle the warring complexities of Punjab politics between the CM and Navjyot Singh Sidhu, the CM and his supporters opposing Sidhu’s prominence in the party.

I am certain that the absence of Sonia Gandhi and the presence of lesser mortals in the meeting could not have discussed PK’s plan for stitching up an alliance for the 2024 polls at this juncture. PK has emerged victorious after the TN and West Bengal polls, strategising wins for the DMK and the TMC. However, an anti-incumbency wave, the warring EPS and OPS duo of the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu and the popularity of Mamata might have catalysed the results to an extent.

By now, PK’s winning strategies are simple. Manage to safeguard the most important leader’s face, admit errors, throw promises, implement some quick temporary remedies and carry the crown for another five years. In the case of Punjab, he may have asked for trouble. He must show loyalty to the CM, his employer, who is opposed to Sidhu. He cannot antagonise the Gandhis and would have to heavily bank on their support to realise his ultimate ambition of becoming India’s kingmaker in the 2024 Parliamentary polls. However, it is easier said than done.

Though PK scripted the win for the BJP in 2014, his teaming up with Nitish in Bihar ended his honeymoon with the BJP. The saffron party, overcoming the ‘15 lacs in every account,’ poll promises and the menace of demonetisation have returned to power in 2019 with a better performance.

PK has been able to slow down the saffron rath at many places with clever and intelligent political moves, from brokering political alliances to scientifically exploiting the caste equations. Sidhu’s ascension as the Punjab Congress Chief, rather than ironing out the factional disputes, may now be an open battle to preserve the reputation of the CM, Capt. Amarinder Singh.

Pratap Singh Bajwa, the other failed contender to the post of State Congress president, will not lie low and take it by its stride. Thrusting Sidhu is not another infallible decision of the Congress high command. The Punjab imbroglio portrays how Delhi is no more high and not more commanding. The Gandhi family, surrounded by sycophants, is happy but has lost the plot to revive Congress as a national opposition party. They cannot stop it from falling further.

Punjab problems have not ended with Sidhu’s anointment but may have only begun. The results are clear on the wall.

Sampath Kumar

Intrépide Voix