Prashant Kishor’s meeting with NCP patriarch Sharad Pawar, his second in two weeks, has sparked speculation regarding the 2024 elections, but the poll strategist downplayed the relationship between the meeting and the ‘Rashtra Manch’ rally in Delhi on Tuesday.
“I rule out any such ties with any front,” Kishor stated to News18. I don’t think the third or fourth fronts can compete with the BJP. Such fronts do not have capability, as history has shown.”
He also told News18 that he had significant conversations with Pawar and that he will meet with him again “with politics on the table and 2024 as a target.”
In 2024, Kishor’s remark affirms a united opposition effort against the BJP, with an emphasis on a face to take on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
There are also rumours that the political coalition does not want to be known as the “Third Front,” preferring to be seen as the “second-best option” against the BJP’s juggernaut. As a result, it avoids being recognised by a nomer.
Pawar, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and Kishor would be involved in the discussions, which will use the Bengal model to prop up the coalition.
Political groups like the Congress-ISF coalition were wiped out in Bengal, and the state elections were viewed as a direct fight between Banerjee and Modi. Opposition leaders believe that a similar system should be implemented at the national level to counter PM Modi.
At the ‘Rashtra Manch’ meeting on Tuesday at 4 p.m., like-minded people from diverse sectors will gather to discuss issues.
Senior advocate KTS Tulsi, former chief election commissioner SY Qureshi, former ambassador KC Singh, lyricist Javed Akhtar, filmmaker Pritish Nandy, senior lawyer Colin Gonsalves, media personalities Karan Thapar and Ashutosh will be among the invitees, according to NCP leader Nawab Malik, who downplayed the gathering’s political significance.
