Prashant Kishor is the election strategist who shot to fame in 2011. His first major political campaign was in 2011 when he helped Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat get re-elected to the CM’s office for a third time in the 2012 Gujarat Assembly Elections.
After his contributions to the 2014 general elections and Modi’s subsequent victory, Kishor became a star campaign strategist. Eventually almost all states began hiring him irrespective of political party affiliations.
Kishor has successfully worked with several other political leaders and parties across India including Amarinder Singh for the 2017 Punjab Legislative Assembly election, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for the 2019 Andhra Pradesh election, Arvind Kejriwal for the 2020 Delhi election, Mamata Banerjee for the 2021 West Bengal election and M K Stalin for the 2021 Tamil Nadu election.
His surveys, ground-level reports and analyses were often treated as the “holy book” by party heads. He was regarded as the modern-day Chanakya, a true kingmaker.
However, Kishor eventually started his own political movement, the Jan Suraaj Party.
The irony is that despite being branded a kingmaker for years he has been struggling to build traction for his own party. It’s somewhat like Chanakya wishing to become Chandragupta.
In an interesting twist, Kishor announced that he would not contest from either of the two constituencies he had considered.
Though he continues to play the role of a Chanakya still, inside sources suggest that if his party performs well he might still find a way into the Assembly possibly through the Vidhan Parishad and could even aim for the Chief Minister’s post eventually.
Once celebrated as Chanakya, successful, respected and wealthy, Kishor now appears to be on a mission to become Chandragupta himself.
Sources claim that he decided not to contest directly because his defeat in both constituencies seemed certain preferring to play it safe.
Now if he steps back from contesting the nation mocks him. If his party loses the election the nation laughs at him again. What can he do?
Prashant Kishor who once enjoyed a luxurious life in air-conditioned offices is now seen on the roads sporting a grown beard and a rugged look meeting people directly. That's the bitterness of fighting the election in comparison with the sweetness of advising someone!
If his party wins he will once again be hailed as Chanakya and if he somehow becomes the Chief Minister he will also be Chandragupta. But if he loses, the nation will laugh at him calling him a joker. Time will tell what he becomes.