‘Trinamool Will Have Tough Time Fighting BJP in Bengal’: Prashant Kishor, Also Says INDI Alliance Narrative For Polls Replete With Flaws

Prominent poll strategist Prashant Kishor, in a recent interview, has said that contrary to the perception of the political pundits, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was going strong in West Bengal despite the electoral setback in the 2021 West Bengal state Assembly polls.

In an interview given to BBC Hindi on 28 February 2024, Kishor, who had prepared the poll strategy for the ruling Mamata Banerjee led-Trinamool Congress in the 2021 elections said, “Although I am not actively involved in West Bengal now, by relying on my inputs I can tell that the BJP, despite its defeat in the previous assembly polls, is continuing to go strong on the ground. That the party isn’t, is a pure misconception of armchair political pundits.”

“The recent Sandeshkhali incident has only added to the many problems currently plaguing the party. Trinamool will have a tough time fighting BJP in the upcoming polls,” he added.

The incident that has caught the ruling Trinamool Congress by its hooks involved clashes between the locals and the party cadres. They are said to have been a result of pent-up anger against the ruling party and its local leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who reportedly has been arrested by the West Bengal Police.

Also Read: Sandeshkhali Update: Calcutta High Court Gives Go Ahead To ED, CBI To Arrest Absconding TMC Leader Shahjahan Sheikh

Apart from expressing his take on West Bengal, Kishor came down hard on the narrative building strategies adopted by the INDI alliance and lax attitude of Congress towards politics.

Here are some of the key arguments expounded by Kishor in the interview:

1) On Congress led opposition parties complaining about the alleged ‘politicisation of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Ayodhya Temple,’ Kishor said:

“It is not a recent perception that the Narendra Modi led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will try to capitalise on the Ayodhya Temple and ride back to power with ease in 2024. Instead of complaining about this now, Congress should have realised this much before and should have formed INDI alliance then itself.”

2) On the Congress-led INDI alliance rhetoric that democracy will be in grave danger if BJP regains power, Kishor said:

“The INDI alliance group of parties are trying to indulge in fear mongering that there won't be any opposition post 2024 after BJP retains power. This is akin to doomsday fallacy. India will continue to be a vibrant democracy with a strong opposition. There will always be space for protests and movements challenging dominant power structures.”

3) Pointing out the stark contrast between BJP’s narrative and that of the Congress for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, he said:

“Congress is making a big mistake by making caste census its agenda for the 2024 poll battle. While BJP talking about a 5 trillion dollar economy target looks in-sync with people's aspirations, Rahul Gandhi by raking up caste census issue comes across as a retrograde. Interestingly, Bihar Chief Minister and Janata Dal (United) chief Nitish Kumar who was very outspoken on Caste Census has jumped out of INDI alliance to BJP who opposes it.”

When asked whether the recent Supreme Court verdict staying electoral bonds will have any impact on the voting patterns, Kishor said that it won't be the case.