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Shiv Sena's super move, appoints strategist Prashant Kishor ahead of LS polls
The Shiv Sena’s move comes at a time when there is no clarity on an alliance with the BJP. A Sena MP who was in the meeting with Thackeray said, that alliance was not on the agenda and the only thing discussed on BJP was that so far no official offer has come to the Sena leadership on alliance from the BJP.
Mumbai: With a surprise move, Shiv Sena has roped in poll strategist Prashant Kishor, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the man who played a prominent role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign for 2014 elections.
Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray had a meeting with Kishor at his residence in Mumbai on Tuesday where it was decided that they would work together.
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A Sena MP confirmed the news. “Uddhav ji had a detailed meeting with Prashant Kishor and he will play a strategic role in the election for Shiv Sena,” the party worker said.
Kishor is the vice president of Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United), a constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.
Kishor also briefly met Sena MPs, who had been called by Thackeray. Sena MPs said Kishor’s team is expected to prepare a presentation and meet Thackeray later this week.
The Shiv Sena’s move comes at a time when there is no clarity on an alliance with the BJP. A Sena MP who was in the meeting with Thackeray said, that alliance was not on the agenda and the only thing discussed on BJP was that so far no official offer has come to the Sena leadership on alliance from the BJP.
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This is the first time Shiv Sena is taking help of a private strategist to prepare a poll plan and carry out surveys. In the past, the Sena has relied on its union, the Sthaniya Lokadhikar Samiti, and youth wing Yuva Sena to get a hang of political moods on the state.
Shiv Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, however, said Kishor’s meeting was a courtesy call. "Shiv Sena makes its own strategy and goes ahead with it. He is the vice president of JD (U) which is part of the NDA. He has come to meet due to this reason” Raut said.
Sanjay also brushed aside the news which claimed that Kishor will play a mediator between Bharatiya Janata Party and Shiv Sena whose equation is hitting a rough patch despite the coalition between the two parties.
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