Prashant Kishor, an electoral strategist, resigned as Principal Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today, stating that he will “not be participating” in the state elections in 2022.
Prashant Kishor claimed in a letter to Amarinder Singh that he was taking a “temporary break from active involvement in public life” and that he had not yet decided on his next move.
“As you are aware, in view of my decision to take a temporary break from an active role in public life, I have not been able to take over the responsibilities as your Principal Advisor. Since I am yet to decide on my future course of action, I write to request you to kindly relieve me from this responsibility,” Mr. Kishor said in the letter.
He confirmed that he “will not be involved in the next round of elections”, signaling that his focus is on the 2024 general election.
The move is bound to disappoint the Chief Minister, who approaches the Punjab polls amid a fragile truce with his rival Navjot Singh Sidhu.
The strategist’s appointment was announced by Amarinder Singh in March, when Mr. Kishor was managing a harrowing Bengal campaign for Mamata Banerjee versus the BJP.
“Happy to share that Prashant Kishor has joined me as my principal advisor. Look forward to working together for the betterment of people of Punjab!” – Mr. Singh, aka “Captain”, had tweeted. The strategist was given cabinet rank in Punjab.
Sources close to Mr. Kishor say he never really took on the job. Much has changed since then.
“There is no point getting involved in state elections when the entire focus is on 2024,” said the sources, referring to the opposition’s moves to join forces ahead of the next general election.
Mamata Banerjee’s victory in Bengal, a big boost for opposition parties looking to take on the BJP in the 2024 national election, has propelled Mr Kishor to the thick of political activities in Delhi.
