The Congresson Monday said there was no turf war between Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh and strategist Prashant Kishor in the key poll-bound State.
“There is no communication gap between them.....Kishor will have no role in organisation matters and he will have no role in ticket distribution”, party General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed told reporters.
Mr Ahmed, who is in-charge of party affairs in Punjab, insisted that Mr Kishor is a “strategist”, and he will suggest which points are to be highlighted in the party manifesto or in its campaign.
He recalled that Mr Kishor has also worked with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
He said it was made clear to Mr Kishor before his appointment as a strategist that he will have “no role” in organisational matters and in ticket distribution.
Justifying his appointment, Mr Ahmed said the mode of campaign has undergone sea change in the internet age where social media has assumed much importance.
Reports had it that the doctrine of Mr Kishor — have fewer fronts to fight — may not be going down well with the Punjab Congress president who does not want to open party’s doors to expelled senior leaders Bir Devinder and Jagmeet Brar.
While apparently Amarinder wants to be seen as the one calling the shots, Mr Kishor wants a free hand in deciding what’s going to hurt Congress prospects and what will boost them.
Congress is out of power in Punjab for the past nine years and is making strenuous efforts to oust the SAD-BJP combine from power, at a time when AAP has emerged as a significant player in the State. - PTI
