Prashant Kishore, the brilliant poll strategist who has helped many leaders through their campaigns stated earlier “If BJP crosses 100, I’d give up this job!” and while BJP was projecting a major win far ahead of TMC, today TMC massive win, third term victory for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Bengal, Prashant Kishore’s forecast has been very astute for the TMC win, a very tough campaign.
Prashant Kishore said on speaking with the top journalist, anchor of NDTV Sreenivasan Jain about the Bengal elections and his role as the poll strategist for Mamata Banerjee’s campaign said that one has to take cognizance of their opponents strength and said he recognized BJP as a formidable force and anyone who does not is not thinking properly. He stated about BJP aggressive fighting, pros of being the ruling party, with media backing, unlimited resources, and EC favorable to them, so it was a tough fight.
He expressed horror about the extent of polarization from the BJP and said, “I have ever ever seen a more blatant use of Jai Shri Ram and religious slogans as much as seen in Bengal campaign!” He also added that this has never happened in the 60 to 70 years of Indian political history and he said that while the BJP played this openly, and asserted that the real issue was what was the election commission doing during all this and why did not the Election Commission pull up the BJP on this!
He also said that the Election Commission’s systemic support to BJP was open and never ever before witnessed such open support in the last 7 to 8 years in his position as a poll strategist working in I-PAC (Indian Political Action Committee).
He also stated that the EC failed its responsibility during the COVID crisis to allow the exposure of millions of voters to COVID. The elections could have been conducted in 5 days, but was done over a period of 2 months as the BJP wanted those extra days before the polling to conduct their rallies to influence the votes in favor of them, which was totally wrong of the Election Commission.
The blatant manner in which the BJP used religion to seek votes with the more blatant use of Jai Shri Ram and religious slogans, temples during the Bengal campaign, and never got a single notice from the EC. He stated emphatically that all political parties must object to the EC giving a free hand to BJP to do whatever it wants. He
He reiterated several times that the TMC went through hell because the Election Commission of India allowed huge inconsistencies by the BJP openly favoring the ruling party and the EC was blatantly partial. Prashant Kishore emphasized that all parties must unite to stop poll panels conduct
He observed that the win of TMC would lend confidence to other parties giving them the message that there is a limit to polarization. Many people give up before fighting and lose and then think BJP won because of polarization, but the truth was they lost because they did not fight and gave up too soon.
When journalist Sreenivasan Jain asked Prashant Kishore if Mamata Banerjee was guilty of minority appeasement, he denied it saying she stood up for all the people of Bengal.
When Vasu asked him how was it like to work with her, he replied that it was a delight and pleasure working with her, she is extremely receptive to whatever is needed to be done.
When Vasu pressed what was different between her and other leaders, Prashant Kishore replied that she had an ability to connect with people and the masses.
On speaking about the Prime Minister’s “Didi O Didi” he replied that people, especially women went against him as it did not go well especially coming from the Prime Minister.
After much probing from Vasu, Prashant Kishore reluctantly mentioned that he would not be working with Congress as a poll strategist hinting that Congress not open to suggestions and said that one has to recognize there is a problem and need to do something about it. He, however, is appointed as Congress’ Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s principal advisor ahead of the 2022 Punjab assembly elections, though Prashant Kishore stated it is a different role and not in the capacity of a poll strategist.
He also emphasized that no election is easy and while a lot of people think it is a cakewalk it is not and a lot of hard work and planning is required.
At the end of his long interview with NDTV, he dropped a big bombshell when he said, “I am quitting this space!”
He later added on further queries by Vasus, “I will quit I-PAC, (Indian Political Action Committee ) and will do no more election campaigning, I am quitting this space. I had enough for 8 to 9years, I want to do something else. I want to spend time with my family, have not seen them for a long time, go on a holiday, though now is not the right time. Now it is time for others to take over I-PAC.”
This came as a shock especially because TMC and DMK won these present elections with him operating as their brilliant poll strategist and Vasu said, “This indicates you want to jump into the political cadre…”
Prashant Kishore was reticent to disclose his future plans and said he was a failed politician.
Sreenivasan Jain said, “You dropped a bombshell!” He congratulated Prashant Kishore for the wins in Tamil Nadu and Bengal, which Prashant Kishore graciously gave credit to MK Stalin and Mamata Banerjee. It would be interesting to see where Prashant Kishore will go now. His past predictions on polls have been shrewd, and his moves are unpredictable, an enigmatic man, outspoken, candid, and for the Bengal big win is described as ‘The man of the match!”
A the end of the day, Mamata Banerjee is now leading in her constituency, Nandigram…”Howzat!”