Cong sends strategist Kishore to Uttarakhand

SMA Kazmi in Dehradun

It was for the first time in the hill state of Uttarakhand that poll strategist Prashant Kishore would be shaping up the poll strategy of the ruling Congress for assembly polls due February 15. 

Prashant Kishore spearheaded the poll campaign of Nitish Kumar in the 2015 Bihar assembly polls. He is also credited with the winning strategy of the BJP in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. He arrived in Uttarakhand with his team members. The team members are involved in gathering data and information from grassroots party workers throughout the state. Kishore has reportedly asked for the names of five dedicated party workers from each polling booth.

Two party conventions of booth, block and district level workers and office-bearers of Garhwal and Kumoan region were held at Haridwar and Haldwani on January 11 and 12, respectively. The party workers were asked to put their suggestions and views regarding winning their respective assembly segments in boxes put up at these two conventions. Although Kishore was not present in both these meetings, his team members were. Party sources said Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi would also be participating in one such convention of booth level workers at Rishikesh on January 16. 

The first message that Kishore wanted to convey to the Uttarakhand Congress leaders was of unity among senior leaders besides involving the youth with the party. Chief Minister Harish Rawat and state Congress Chief Kishore Upadhaya are at loggerheads on various issues related to elections. Kishore effect: Both the leaders heaped praise on each other at the Haridwar party conclave. They told party workers stand united.

Another tip that was given was the alleged discrimination done by the BJP-led central government with duly elected Harish Rawat government. The Congress workers were told about several measures being taken for the welfare of the poor, marginal, farmers and those affected by the 2013 natural disaster. The workers were told to carry the message to their respective booths

Being a smaller state having smaller assembly segments, Prashant Kishore's team wants to do personalized door-to-door campaign in the entire state. "His teams are assessing the situation in each assembly segment. They will come out with an overall strategy," said a Congress leader.