Congress 'impending electoral rout' in Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, says Prashant Kishor

He said that the Chintan Shivir gave the party's leadership 'some time' before the polls

Election strategist Prashant Kishor on Friday shared his comment on the outcome of Congress party's Chintan Shivir in Udaipur.

In a tweet, Kishor said that the brainstorming session "failed to achieve anything meaningful other than prolonging the status quo."

He added that it gave some time to the Congress leadership, at least till the "impending electoral rout" in Gujarat and Himachal Pradesh.

"I’ve been repeatedly asked to comment on the outcome of #UdaipurChintanShivir. In my view, it failed to achieve anything meaningful other than prolonging the status-quo and giving some time to the #Congress leadership, at least till the impending electoral rout in Gujarat and HP!" he tweeted.

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With a number of Congress leaders, particularly from states, resenting not being invited to the Udaipur Chintan Shivir of the party, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi will address a full day brainstorming session in New Delhi for early 120 leaders that include 70 Working Presidents of different states.

AICC sources said during the day-long interaction Sonia and Rahul will take the feedback from 16 national spokespersons and the party functionaries, who could not attend the Udaipur Chintan Shivir which had invited 430 persons.

The Congress further announced the 'Bharat Jodo march', reserving posts to people under 50 years of age and giving representation to the marginalised sections.

The Congress and Prashant Kishor parted ways in April after hectic parleys for two weeks. Sources in the Congress said that Kishor wanted sweeping powers and a free hand in the election management, but the party wanted a group of leaders to oversee the 2024 general elections.

Several Congress leaders were reportedly of the opinion that no consultant should get the power to run the whole show. Sources said since the working style of the Congress is different and the party cannot be run from a single window, Sonia Gandhi had invited Kishor to join the Empowered Action Group for the 2024 polls.

The sources also indicated that Rahul Gandhi was also not keen to give sweeping powers to one person.

After declining the Congress' offer to join the party, Kishor had said that the party needs 'leadership' and 'collective will' to fix deep-rooted structural problems.

"I declined the generous offer of #Congress to join the party as part of the EAG & take responsibility for the elections," Kishor tweeted.

"In my humble opinion, more than me, the party needs leadership and collective will to fix the deep-rooted structural problems through transformational reforms," he added.

(With inputs from PTI)