Nitish's election strategist to work for Didi? Prashant Kishor gets feelers from Mamata

KOLKATA, Nov 10: After yet again proving his brilliance as an election strategist by shaping Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's successful campaign strategy, Prashant Kishor has received feelers from Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress for plying his trade in next year's West Bengal assembly polls.

However, the talks are till now at a very initial stage and informal level, a source close to Kishore confirmed.

"There have been some informal discussions. We got a phone call from Mamata Banerjee's office," the source told IANS in Patna on Tuesday.

"The talks are at a very initial stage. So far, there have been no direct talks between Banerjee and Prashant Kishor," the source said.

In Kolkata, a Trinamool Congress insider said "it was too early to say" whether the deal would be firmed up in the coming days.

"But we are now on a very strong wicket in Bengal. We can win on our own strategy. But the final decision will be taken by our supremo."

The 37-year-old Kishor had quit a lucrative United Nations job in Africa in 2011 and returned to India.

He is regarded as the architect of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's general election campaign. The much-vaunted "chai pe charcha" (chat over tea) and 3D hologram rallies were said to be Kishor's brainchild.

Ahead of the Bihar polls, Kishor switched allegiance to Nitish Kumar, and helped set up a "War room".

He also played a key role in improving the JD(U) media cell and devised novel campaign strategies.

IANS