India / Poll strategist Kishor given minister status in Punjab govt; to be paid ₹1/ month

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has appointed election strategist Prashant Kishor as his principal advisor, a year ahead of the 2022 assembly elections in the state. 

In a tweet Monday evening, the chief minister said he was looking forward to working with Kishor. “Happy to share that @PrashantKishor has joined me as my Principal Advisor. Look forward to working together for the betterment of the people of Punjab!”

Kishor has been appointed in the rank and status of a cabinet minister. The chief minister’s office tweeted that he will be paid Re 1 per month as token honorarium but will be entitled to a government residence and half a dozen staff members. He will be also be eligible for transport, telephone and medical facilities as entitled to a cabinet minister.

Highly-placed sources in the CMO said Kishor had been hired by the Punjab government at a nominal salary of Re 1 per month as distinct from being taken on board officially by the Congress party in the state.

State Congress chief Sunil Jakhar told ThePrint he was unaware of Kishor joining the government. “I am not in the loop on this,” he said. 

Happy to share that @PrashantKishor has joined me as my Principal Advisor. Look forward to working together for the betterment of the people of Punjab!

— Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) March 1, 2021

The announcement is likely to end long-drawn speculation over Kishor working with Amarinder again for the assembly polls that are expected to be held in early March next year.

Kishor, founder of the Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC), was credited with planning and executing the Amarinder-led Congress’ strategy in the 2017 elections, which resulted in the party regaining power with a thumping majority, winning 77 of the 117 seats in the assembly.

“As I have said many times before, PK and his team and their work were absolutely critical to our victory in Punjab!” Amarinder had said following his victory.

Kishor is currently strategising the ruling Trinamool Congress Party’s (TMC) assembly poll campaign in West Bengal.

Reacting to the development, the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said Amarinder had “sprinkled salt on the wounds of Punjabis by appointing jumlebaaz Kishor as his principal advisor”. 

“It is clear that the Congress party is banking on manufacturing a new set of lies in its bid to befool the people yet again,” former minister Bikram Singh Majithia said in a press statement issued Monday evening. 

Amarinder’s backing but not so cordial ties with party

Kishor has always had the backing of the chief minister, although this isn’t the case with the Congress party. 

In June last year, the election strategist had made it clear that he will not work for the Congress in bits and pieces after Amarinder hinted at joining him again for the elections. 

Amarinder had in a press conference responded, saying that 55 of his MLAs and prominent leaders were in favour of Kishor being roped in for the assembly elections. He had added that contrary to the media reports, Kishor was keen on working with him again. 

Jakhar and the then Congress in-charge Asha Kumari were against Kishor being brought in. Some cabinet ministers and other leaders were also against him. 

Sources in the party said that Amarinder had convinced the party high command over Kishor almost two months ago. They added that it was decided that the announcement would be made in the first week of March. 

The 2017 campaign

Ahead of the 2017 assembly elections, Kishor had strategised the Congress’ entire campaign, which revolved around Amarinder. The poll strategist considers the chief minister as the biggest asset in the Punjab Congress. 

Since Amarinder is likely to spearhead the election campaign this time as well, Kishor’s efforts will only complement the party’s strategy. 

Kishor had focused largely on making Amarinder look accessible to the people in a bid to meet the biggest criticism against the chief minister that he remained aloof and was inaccessible not just to the public but his own MLAs as well. 

Kishor started highly successful programmes such as “Coffee with Captain” and “Halke Vich Captain (Captain in the constituency)”.

In the run-up to the 2017 elections, however, Amarinder had made it clear that Kishor would not be involved in the distribution of tickets, which he added was the domain of the party high command.