Prashant Kishor may stay Punjab CM’s chief adviser

Chandigarh, May 2

As the dismal performance of the Congress in four states is set to unfold new permutation and combinations in the party, an announcement by Prashant Kishor to quit as political strategist created quite a buzz in Punjab’s political circles.

In March, Capt Amarinder Singh appointed him as his principal adviser in Cabinet rank after which he had held several meetings with government officials, ministers and MLAs, amid criticism from certain quarters. Questions are being raised about his continuity in the government in the light of turmoil in the state Congress over delay in justice to the families of the victims of Kotkapura firing.

After TMC’s landslide victory in West Bengal, Kishor in an interview to a private channel said he had quit as the political strategist and there were other capable people in IPAC to perform the role.

He said his appointment as the principal adviser to the CM was on government side, not with the party. Though sources close to him said he would continue to work as the CM’s principal adviser, he did not reply to the message regarding clarity on his role.

A senior functionary said clarity on the issue would emerge once Kishor reaches Chandigarh in the coming days. Sources said though appointed as adviser to the CM, his role was to strategise victory of Capt Amarinder Singh in the 2022 Assembly elections. Political analysts say Kishor’s role is going to be tough. — TNS