Chandigarh: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor has quit the position of Principal Adviser to Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections. Kishor took to Twitter and requested the CM to relieve him from his duties saying he has taken a temporary break from active role in public life.
“As you are aware, in view of my decision to take a temporary break from active role in public life, I have not been able to take over the responsibilities as your Principal Advisor. Since I am yet to decide on my future course of action, I write to request you to kindly relieve me from this responsibility. I take this opportunity to thank you for considering me for this position,” Kishor said, explaining his move that comes just ahead of the 2022 Punjab polls.
Punjab witnessed a huge tussle between CM Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu during the election of the new state party chief. Reports suggest that Prashant Kishor played a significant role in uniting them and coming to the decision to make Sidhu the Punjab Congress chief.
Singh had appointed the election strategist his principal adviser in March this year, breaking the news through a tweet that said: “Happy to share that @PrashantKishor has joined me as my principal advisor. Look forward to working together for the betterment of the people of Punjab!”
Kishor had been appointed “in the rank and status of a Cabinet minister”, the CMO tweeted, and will be working pro bono. It added that he will be paid Re 1 per month as token honorarium. He will be entitled to perks including a government residence, half a dozen staff members, free transport, free air travel, telephone and medical facilities.
Kishor's resignation can be a huge setback for Singh whose party had won the 2017 Assembly polls with a handsome majority — 77 seats in the House of 117 members — with Prashant Kishor working as his advisor.
Kishor also been engaged by the Trinamool Congress as a poll strategist in Bengal that went to elections earlier this year. After the party's landmark victory, he had tweeted: “I have been thinking of quitting for too long and was looking for an opportunity, Bengal gave me that chance.” When asked about his political ambition, he said, “Joining politics has always been on the radar, I have been there and failed, but I must go back and rethink what I must do better.”