Congress calls Prashant Kishor’s poll prediction “ludicrous”

The Congress dismissed Prashant Kishor's latest prediction that the BJP could come "number 1" in West Bengal and make its inroads in southern states in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as "ludicrous".

Poll strategist Prashant Kishor on Monday while interacting with news agency PTI editors said that BJP is likely to emerge as number one party in Trinamool Congress-ruled West Bengal in the upcoming Lok Sabha election and acknowledged party's hard work to expand its presence in south and east India over the years and may reap dividends this time.

Commenting on his remarks, Congress leader Ajoy Kumar told NDTV that Kishor's prediction was a BJP-sponsored show. “Prashant Kishor is an RSS man masquerading as a political analyst. You should call it a BJP-sponsored show," Kumar told NDTV.

Kumar also alleged Kishor of attempting to destabilize the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government when he was with the Congress alliance and later giving up after he joined the BJP.

"The day Nitish joined the BJP alliance, he (Mr Kishor) stopped his tour," Mr Kumar said.
Kumar, who is Congress's in-charge of Tamil Nadu, also claimed that there is no anti-incumbency in the state.

He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's frequent visits to Tamil Nadu would only enhance the ruling DMK alliance's prospects.

He even said that PM Modi has lost credibility before the polls, he said.

"The BJP has reduced the political discourse to a street fight. The party only raises non-substantive issues," Kumar was quoted as saying.

Commenting on Congress leadership not campaigning in Tamil Nadu as frequently as PM Modi does, a question also raised by Prashant Kishor, he said that Rahul Gandhi would campaign in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore and Tirunelveli on April 12.

He assertively said that the opposition INDIA bloc will win all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Kumar also sound confident about making significant gains in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Telangana, and Karnataka.

Earlier, when asked about Prashant Kishor's remarks, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said, "I do not answer on remarks by consultants. Talk about political people, what is there to answer on consultants?” reported NDTV.

Prashant Kishor in the interview had said that Rahul Gandhi has been unable to either step aside or let someone else steer the party despite his inability to deliver the results in the last 10 years.