Prashant Kishor wanted Priyanka Gandhi to be Congress President and a free hand regarding reforms in the party, these suggestions also obstructed
In order to strengthen the party for the Lok Sabha elections 2024 and to deal with future challenges, Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday decided that a privileged action group – 2024 would be formed. Election strategist Prashant Kishor was also invited to join this group.
But on Tuesday, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala tweeted that after Prashant Kishor’s presentation and discussions, the Congress President had asked him to join the group by joining the party, which also had a responsibility for him. But he refused. We respect them for their efforts and suggestions.
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.
— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 26, 2022
Congress and Prashant Kishor put two different aspects
But while Congress has told one aspect of the reason behind the refusal, Prashant Kishor has put forward another aspect by keeping his side. Where the Congress said that Prashant Kishor was given a ‘special responsibility’. On the other hand, Prashant Kishor claimed that he was asked to take responsibility for the elections.
Shortly after Surjewala’s remarks, Kishor said in a tweet, “I have refused to accept the generous offer of Congress to join the party as part of a privileged working group and take responsibility for the elections.”
He also said, ‘I am of the humble opinion that more than me, the party needs leadership and collective will to address the structural problems that have engulfed the party through transformative reforms.’
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.
— Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) April 26, 2022
teen wanted free hand
According to the report of the Times of India, it was clearly visible in his tweet that the Congress neither wants to accept major reforms in the party nor regarding the president. He wanted to confine them to electoral strategy.
According to the report, Prashant Kishor had advised that the party should take immediate decisions and there should be separate wings for election management and organization management. Prashant Kishor wanted that he should be given a free hand to reform the Congress, which was not acceptable to the senior Congress leaders.
At the same time, Prashant Kishor’s advice on leaving old alliance partners in Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir and Maharashtra and on the party leadership also closed the way. A Congress functionary said, Prashant Kishor wanted the party’s prime ministerial candidate and Congress president to be separate. Kishor wanted Priyanka Gandhi to be made the party president, while the party wanted Rahul Gandhi to become the president again.
Sidhu had tweeted
After Kishor refused to join the Congress, former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Navjot Singh Sidhu tweeted, “Had a wonderful meeting with my old friend PK…old liquor.” Old gold and old friends are the best.
Had a wonderful meeting with my old friend PK … Old wine , Old gold and Old friends still the best !!! pic.twitter.com/OqOvkJqJmF
— Navjot Singh Sidhu (@sherryontopp) April 26, 2022
Significantly, Prashant Kishor had given a presentation in front of the Congress leadership recently about strengthening the party and preparations for the next Lok Sabha elections. Sonia Gandhi constituted an 8-member committee to consider his suggestions. Sources said that Kishor suggested that in some states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha, the Congress should revise its strategy.
According to Congress sources, in his presentation Prashant Kishor had also said that the Congress should focus on about 370 Lok Sabha seats and go into the fray with an alliance in Maharashtra, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.
