After a professionally-managed 2014 Modi campaign, Delhi’s AAP election and now Nitish Kumar campaign in Bihar, campaign strategists are in big demand. With assembly elections round the corner in Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Assam, Kerala, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, political parties have started shopping of strategists like like Prashant Kishor, who oversaw Nitish Kumar’s election campaign in Bihar.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu are looking for expert agencies hoping that these strategists who operate on wider platforms will bring in a fresh outlook.
It is learned that Prashant Kishore was approached immediately after the Bihar results by a senior DMK leader and West Bengal’s ruling All-India Trinamool Congress.
Mr. Kishor and his India Political Action Committee (IPAC), it is learned, have not accepted any offer so far. Sources believe Mr. Kishore will have a big role to play in the Nitish government.
“A lot of work is yet to be finished in Bihar and we need a break at least for a month. Our team worked 24/7 in the last one year,” Rishi Raj Singh, founder member and director of IPAC told The Hindu . “We will meet sometime in January 2016 to decide further course of action.”
Another strategy firm, Oakland Brigs, has been roped in by a party in Assam. It is also in talks with a leading party in Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. A spokesperson for Oakland Brigs declined to comment.
Indian political strategists are in demand abroad as well. IPAC has provided consultancy services to the Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party in Tanzania, where parliamentary and presidential elections were held in October. Mr. Kishor travelled to Tanzania in August with a team of strategists and provided advisory services to the ruling party.
Last week, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav met Gerald J. Austin and has plans to hire his services. Austin has been leading the Democrats’ campaign in the U.S. presidential polls since 1968.
Tamil Nadu is going to poll along with West Bengal and Assam next year. Punjab and Uttar Pradesh will follow in 2017.
