Political circles abuzz as Kishor meets KCR
A PARTY FUNCTIONARY SAID THE DUO MET AT RAO’S FARMHOUSE
HYDERABAD: Election strategist Prashant Kishor on Sunday met Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) amid speculation that the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) has brought him onboard ahead of the assembly elections next year.
A party functionary familiar with the development said Kishor met Rao at the latter’s farmhouse at Erravelli village in Siddipet district.
Prior to the meeting, Kishor, along with a couple of his close confidants, toured parts of the district, including the chief minister’s constituency Gajwel, to get a feedback from the people on the performance of the TRS government in the state.
The popular poll strategist also conducted a quick survey on the prospects of the ruling party in the next elections and the impact of various welfare and development schemes taken up by the TRS government on the electorate, the party functionary said.
“At the one-on-one meeting with KCR at the latter’s farmhouse, Kishor is understood to have briefed him about the feedback from the people and the strategies to be adopted by the party in the coming months,” the party leader said, seeking anonymity.
“There is no clarity yet on whether Prashant Kisor would focus only on the assembly elections or work out strategies for KCR’S role in national politics. But he is also believed to be obtaining feedback from the people on KCR’S recent comments against (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi and his possible role in Delhi,” the leader added. On Saturday, popular
South Indian actor Prakash Raj, who has been off late moving closely with the TRS, met the chief minister and held discussions with him on the party’s role in national politics.
Political analyst Sriram Karri said the TRS could use Kishor’s inputs given its audacious bid for an unprecedented third consecutive term in 2023. “But, KCR is facing huge antiincumbency, and it has a humongous task ahead, despite its strategic advance that the two main rivals - the Congress and the BJP - can never come together. Kishor will be tested most seriously...”