Strategist Prashant Kishor, Rahul Gandhi meet to craft Congress UP poll strategy

Party leaders said they resolved to defeat 'three Ms' of Modi, Mulayam and Mayawati in the 2017 elections

Political strategist Prashant Kishor, who played a key role in victories of Narendra Modi-led BJP in general elections and JD(U)-RJD-Congress alliance in Bihar, yesterday attended a meeting with Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi to craft the party's strategy for Uttar Pradesh polls.

Congress leaders from the state confirmed Kishor's presence during the meet and said the party resolved to defeat "three Ms" of Modi, (SP president) Mulayam (Singh) and (BSP chief) Mayawati in the 2017 elections with "Kishor's expertise".

Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Nirmal Khatri also said that there was no discussion on the projection of Gandhi's sister Priyanka as party's face for the polls, and added the talks revolved mainly around issues troubling the key cowbelt state.

"Prashant Kishor indeed was present for the meeting. Party will give him a role which it finds appropriate. His expertise will benefit us. He is ready to help us," said Khatri.

Another party leader, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who also attended the meeting, seconded him, saying, "There was no discussion on this in the meeting. It is the party high command which will decide what role is to be given to a leader. As of now, we are discussing issues which the party can take up during polls."

Joshi said BJP's efforts to "whip up communal passions" in Uttar Pradesh, price rise, law and order, water-electricity supply, unemployment and agrarian crisis will figure among the key issues Congress plans to highlight during the elections.

"Those who attended the meeting made various suggestions. Kishor listened to them. We are analysing these issues and ones that are important. The tenure of BSP was also quite bad, it has been going ahead with a castiest mindset in selecting candidates. So, we are strategising according to the scene in the state," she added.

The leaders said the issue of forming alliance with other parties was not discussed in the meeting and added that party high command will take a call in this regard.

The meeting was also attended by AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh and other party leaders like Madhusudan Mistry and RPN Singh.