There were reports in the media recently claiming that a rift was developing between the Congress party leaders and poll strategist Prashant Kishor. As per a report by India Today Television, and reported by the Financial Express, this rift has finally materialised and the Congress is cutting ties with Kishor.

The Congress party is said to have been unhappy with Kishor’s meeting with Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav on 1 November. Only yesterday, the party’s chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh, Sheila Dikshit, had expressed surprise at the meeting, which apparently others in the party didn’t know about.

“It did look a little surprising. I don't know what made him go for the meeting,” Dikshit told IANS when asked about the meeting which also had SP leader Amar Singh in attendance. Speculation arose of a grand alliance between Congress and SP to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party in India’s most populous state, Uttar Pradesh (UP).

However, another reason cited for Congress’ split with Kishor is the latter’s push for Priyanka Gandhi to play a greater role in the upcoming UP elections. Reportedly, the Congress didn’t approve of this move.

And to add to this, even the Congress leader in Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh, was reportedly unhappy with the poll strategist and had expressed reservations about him.

Kishor is said to have shared a good rapport with Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and was hired to devise the electoral strategy for the party for the upcoming Punjab and UP elections.

(With inputs from IANS)