Why Prashant Kishor and Congress are heading for a break-up

Election strategist Prashant Kishor's association with the Congress is nearing its end. Though no formal decision to this affect has been taken as yet, party sources indicate the relationship has run its course and the end is near.

The two sides have serious differences on the wisdom of deploying Priyanka Gandhi in the campaign for the upcoming UP elections and Kishor's latest attempts to forge a grand alliance against the BJP.

Kishor was roped in by the Congress leadership to help with the party's election strategy in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. He has been working closely with both Rahul Gandhi and his sister Priyanka in putting in place a game plan in these two states.

He was the brains behind Rahul's high-voltage 40-day Kisan Yatra through UP and also Captain Amarindar Singh's "khat pe charcha" in Punjab. He did succeed in generating a buzz around the Congress campaign in UP by getting Sonia Gandhi and Rahul to hit the trail much before their rivals in the state. He was also instrumental in persuading the Congress leadership to project Sheila Dikshit as the CM candidate in UP.

The party's political managers and Kishor differ not just on the wisdom of deploying Priyanka but also on the manner in which the UP campaign is being conducted. Kishor favours an intensive campaign by the Gandhis, including Priyanka, till the elections. He is miffed that there has been no review meeting since the end of Rahul's yatra a month ago and no follow up campaign.

Congress's political managers are upset with Kishor for hobnobbing with the SP leadership and they claim it nullifies the entire campaign of the party so far, that was built on attacking the state government. Many state and central leaders fear Kishor has been encroaching into their domain and have been complaining to the leadership to cut links with him.

Also read: With Priyanka still missing, how long will Prashant Kishor stick for Congress in UP?