Naidu, PK meeting raises political temperature in AP

Vijayawada: After he bid adieu to his role as election strategist in 2021, Prashant Kishor who played a key role in containing BJP upsurge leading to retention of power by the Trinamool Congress in West Bengal, meeting with TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu at the latter’s Undavalli residence near here has heated up political temperatures in Andhra Pradesh.

The meeting fuelled speculation that he may be back into election management to ensure the comeback of the yellow brigade along with its alliance partner Tollywood star-turned politician Pawan Kalyan, in AP.

However, a source in TDP denied any such possibility. Prashant Kishor was accompanied by Naidu’s son and TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh in a flight from Hyderabad to Undavalli. Prashant’s brainchild Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) is doing propaganda for ruling YSRCP at present. He had played a key role in finalising the election strategy of YSRCP, which finally led to bagging 151 Assembly seats in its kitty in 2019.

Another source in TDP told Bizz Buzz that the meeting between the TDP supremo and Prashant centered around how, the ‘arrogant and vindictive’ behaviour of YSRCP leaders after coming to power, unemployment and the filing of several cases in quick succession against Naidu and his sensational arrest on September 9 and the confusion over capital issue, could be converted into anti-incumbency swing in the 2024 elections.

There is no official confirmation on Prashant’s return to election management after he plunged into active politics through a public contact programme in Bihar. He had a brief stint as a political aide of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after which he even held talks with top leadership of the Congress to don a key role for managing the election strategy of the grand old party.

Reacting to the meeting between Naidu and Prashant, YSRCP leader and Irrigation Minister Ambati Rambabu said the two PKs (both Prashant and Pawan Kalyan are fondly called PK by their admirers), will not stop the reelection of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy-led party for a second term with a spectacular majority. He quoted how Naidu in 2019 termed Prashant Kishor as a ‘Bihar Dacoit.’ TDP’s campaign is at present handled by Showtime Consulting and its Director Shantanu Singh was present at the meeting fuelling speculation that Prashant instead of a full-time role, may offer some guidance to Showtime Consulting. Kishore was one of the co-founders of I-PAC in which Shantanu Singh also worked as a Director. Showtime is led by Robin Singh, who is coordinating the publicity blitzkrieg by TDP against the YSRCP Government during the arrest of Naidu and Yuva Galam yatra of Lokesh. It is also helping in finalisation of the joint manifesto by TDP and Jana Sena Party.