After Punjab, Congress books Prashant Kishor for 2017 UP, Gujarat assembly polls

Bengaluru, Feb 29: Prashant Kishor, the Master strategist behind Narendra Modi's thumping victory in 2014 Lok Sabha elections, is all set to turn his magical wand at Congress for Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat assembly elections, that are slated to be held in 2017.

37-year-old Prashant is already booked by Congress for 2017 Punjab assembly elections, and has now sought his help for other two key states as well.

As per a report published in Economic Times, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi held a meeting with Prashant last week.

The report further said that Priyanka Gandhi may be projected as the CM candidate for Uttar Pradesh. To plan his strategy for UP polls, Prashant may hire few professionals.

Congress leaders from Uttar Pradesh, are also likely to report to him, in coming days.

In 2015, Prashant proved his mettle in Bihar, by turning the tide in the favour of grand alliance formed by JD(U)-RJD-Congress.

In Jan, 2016, Prashant Kishor was appointed as advisor to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for Planning and Programme Implementation. [Prashant Kishor appointed as advisor to Nitish Kumar; to strategise for Punjab polls too]

The Congress, which was in power in Punjab in 2002-2007, lost in the 2007 and the 2012 polls to the Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP alliance. The state will witness a triangular contest in the February 2017 polls, with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) making it clear that it will enter the political fray aiming to form the next government.

In 403-member Uttar Pradesh legislative assembly, Congress has only 29 MLAs and in 182-member Gujarat legislative assembly, Congress has 58 MLAs.

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