Can Prashant Kishor fill the shoes of Ahmed Patel in today’s Congress??

Looking back the India politics for last two years since the death of Ahmed Patel, the senior congress leader, Indian national congress has lost all state elections, except for a Tamil Nadu, where they are a minor partner with no say at all. As we see Sonia Gandhi ageing and not in good health to drive the party on daily basis is feeling the need of a friend, philosopher, and guide like Ahmed Patel to manage the party from within and partners from outside.

We have seen many instances from each state elections, both the Gandhi scions have driven the party to failure even where they had a very good chance to retain in Punjab, they were not able to make good partnerships, nor able to generate an inspiring leadership, which is affecting the party rank and file, the G-23 group of leaders raising the concerns about the party which were discussed for a public show but had never been really acted upon for outcomes.

We have seen a long list of senior congress leaders like, Jyotiraditya scandia, Jiten prasada, RPN Patel and many state MLAs and leaders joining the BJP in the big state Uttar Pradesh, also many state leaders in other states moved to different parties like TMC, AAP based on the state level opportunities. We have seen that Congress is no longer a strong power or attracting the youth in the southern states, there is no presence of Congress in states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nādu, Telangana, the infighting of state leaders in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Telangana is wide open.

 

Rahul Gandhi who is busy sending tweets from out of the country to oppose the prime minister Narendra Modi, has no time to really fix the issues within his own party. Team Rahul who makes the tweets or press conferences with no real substance to the ground are not able to give a good reason why they should be believed, hence the common citizens are showing no interest in the causes they are raising even though the issues are hurting the common man, like Inflation and Petrol price rise.

Priyanka Gandhi, needs a applause for her single handed effort during UP elections without any party support, has made an effort to prove her credentials, which is a good sign in the long run, but this is not making any mark on the psyche of the common citizens in the short run who are satisfied with the basic needs and happy with the free food, shelter and medical facilities they have been provided by Central schemes and diligently shared the BJP ruled states to get the expected benefit in state elections.

Making photo-op sessions in UP and not commenting on similar issues in non-BJP ruled states by Gandhi scions and congress leaders is creating a serious loss of credibility among the citizens, Congress was once said to be ideological party is now looking issues raised by smaller parties like TMC, AAP, NCP and TRS, etc., to piggyback and try to win marginal seats, the topics picked by the current congress leaders are either seen as Anti-National or Anti-Poor. Leaders talking about the Adani’s and Ambani’s now have created them in the past during their rule, all the permissions and contracts were provided by their governments and daily Rahul talks about “Suit Boot ki Sarkar”, strange irony here.

The serious issues the current day Congress is facing are lack of leadership and strategy, which is making them look more like a lost cause. Ahmed Patel, who could stich alliances with any secular parties across the nation and bring leaders like Sharad Pawar, Mamta Banerjee, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Lalu Yadav, Chandra Babu Naidu and Kumara swamy on the same platform against BJP, along with managing the internal rivalry between the state leaders and bring things under control, is being missed by Sonia Gandhi.

Prashant Kishore being a consultant participated in the Congress strategy making for earlier state elections, he was always seen as more an idea generator or a number cruncher, but not an integral part of the decision making, which the Gandhi family kept within their fold. Now looking at the election results in 2022 where, the political graph of congress party going deep down in the number of elected members and losing most of the cadre to either TMC, AAP or any other alternative visibly opposing the strong BJP in those states, Is Gandhi clan looking desperately for a Maverick like Ahmed Patel who can manage the internal rebellions as well strengthen the relations with the secular minded coalition partners?

By hearing the media reports, which is talking about the leaks of 600 pages of presentation, I was wondering, a party which makes its decisions behind the closed doors and leaks its decisions through media is willing to take a leap of faith on a person who has political aspirations and willing to take risks? A look at the resume of the Prashanth Kishore raises more questions then answers to this effect.

PK made winnable strategies for already strong political figure’s and has not been successful to help the low profile to win the battles. A person who wants to occupy the public space and created an aura for himself, will he be willing to be act as a backroom boy for Gandhi family aka Ahmed Patel? A party which is managed with directions from top and all local politicians are just the toys of the bigger player, will PK able to convince the local chieftains in the states?  A consultant can make money by selling his ideas, but can he fill the treasury of the national party like Ahmed Patel managed during the times of need? A party where every senior or junior leader wants to be seen as close to the Gandhi family, are the leaders are willing to accept a consultant’s rationale or directions?

 With twitter abuzz of PK joining the grand old party, will he be able to fill the shoes of Ahmed Patel managing the Majesty, Money, and Majority of the party? Time will only tell if he is going to be true to his aspirations or true to his masters. Whatever be the outcome of this turn of events within congress party, India is going through a phase where Lobbyists like PK are now mainstream political faces.