Desperate CBN & Lokesh Seek Prashant Kishor's Help

Amaravati: As the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh are approaching nearer, the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP is pulling out all the stops to improve the winning chances of the party in the elections. Naidu, who claims to be the ‘Chanakya’ of politics and boasts of 40 years of experience as a politician and 15 years as a Chief Minister, seems to be running out of ideas to strengthen the beleaguered TDP. 

The TDP is so desperate to win the elections that it is begging to the popular election strategist Prashant Kishor, popularly known as PK, to help them overturn the impending defeat at the hustings. Some say Karma comes to haunt TDP as Naidu had earlier called Prashant a ‘Bihari’ dacoit’. The TDP leader had said PK was allegedly “behind the Form 7 scam in Andhra Pradesh” and helped in deleting lakhs of votes in the state.

Prashant Kishor arrived at Gannavaram Airport, Vijayawada along with TDP General Secretary Nara Lokesh in the same flight from Hyderabad on Saturday. Later, he drove to the TDP chief’s residence at Undavalli in Amaravati where he met the former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu. The meeting has triggered speculations that Kishor might be helping the party for the upcoming elections in Andhra Pradesh. 

After receiving a crushing defeat in 2019 assembly elections, the TDP has lost most of its electoral ground to the ruling YSRCP. The party cadre lost whatever motivation they had after their leader Naidu was sent to jail in the multi-crore skill development scam case and the party’s decision to join hands with Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena Party (JSP) ahead of elections. The party is currently going through its weakest phase and the TDP leadership is hoping to revive the party with the help of the electoral strategist. 

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— Telugu Scribe (@TeluguScribe) December 23, 2023

Naidu seems scared as the YSRCP election strategists are working overtime to deliver the ‘Why not 175’ slogan in the upcoming polls. Earlier, the chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had stated that his party has formed an alliance with the people of the state, so he’s ready for the elections.

The TDP had vehemently denied the reports of getting PK on board shortly after its defeat in the 2019 assembly elections. The party’s spokesperson Lanka Dinakar had dismissed the claims as ‘propaganda’ and maintained that ‘TDP is a cadre-based party and it does not need any consultant’s services’. It remains to be seen if the TDP will bite the bullet and bring the consultant (Prashant Kishor) on board. 

I-PAC has been working in collaboration with @YSRCParty since last year. Together, we're dedicated to working tirelessly until @ysjagan secures a thumping victory again in 2024 and continues his unwavering efforts to better the lives of the people of Andhra Pradesh.

— I-PAC (@IndianPAC) December 23, 2023

Also Read: Rude Shock for Naidu as Anantapur Loyalists to Quit Party