Controversy erupts over Prashant Kishor’s leaked audio chat on West Bengal polls

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 10

As the fourth phase of polling in West Bengal concluded today, the BJP was quick to lap up the purported claims of ruling TMC’s election strategist Prashant Kishor to buttress its argument that the saffron outfit has gained popular support in the state.

The BJP IT cell head and co in charge for West Bengal Amit Malviya argued that Kishor’s comments made to a few Delhi-based journalists during a social media audio discussion amounted to the TMC conceding defeat in the state Assembly elections.

Further, the saffron party’s IT cell went all out to amplify the clips of the purported audio conversation in which Kishor is heard saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi continues to enjoy as much popularity in West Bengal as Chief Minister and TMC leader Mamata Banerjee. Kishor is also heard saying that 27 per cent Dalit voters in the state are voting for the BJP. In the audio, which Malviya shared on Twitter, Kishor can be heard making claims that there’s anti-incumbency factor against the TMC and it is also at the receiving end because of appeasement politics.

“On a day Bengal is voting for 4th phase on as many as 44 seats, TMC cadre and leaders woke up to find out that Mamata Banerjee’s election strategist (Prashant Kishore) has conceded the election. Every voter in Bengal has these videos on their mobile and is watching them as s(he) queues up to vote,” tweeted Malviya, who also claimed that the TMC election had just been thrown away.

Kishor purportedly stated during the conversation that PM Modi enjoyed cult status to an extent that a substantial chunk of population in the state gives him a demigod status. “There is anti-incumbency against the TMC and polarisation is a reality, says Mamata Banerjee’s strategist in an open chat,” Malviya said.

Taking purported claims of Kishor to strengthen BJP’s narrative against Mamata for minority appeasement, Malviya quoted TMC’s election strategist having said that “all that the Left, Congress and TMC ecosystem have done in the last 20 years is Muslim appeasement. It has resulted in resentment.”

Meanwhile, Kishor, on his part, also took to Twitter to counter the saffron party.

‘PM enjoys cult status’

Prashant Kishor purportedly stated during the conversation that PM Modi enjoyed cult status to an extent that a substantial chunk of population in the state considers him a demigod. “There is anti-incumbency against the TMC and polarisation is a reality, says Mamata Banerjee’s strategist in an open chat,” BJP IT cell head and co in charge for West Bengal Amit Malviya said.

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