Strategically controversial: Prashant Kishor in demand after YSR's sweep

Trinamool Congress, he is said to be in talks with the Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and the Janata Dal (Secular) in Karnataka

When the national executive of the Janata Dal (United), or JD(U), met at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s official residence in Patna recently, all eyes were on Prashant Kishor. A few days before that, the poll strategist and party vice-president had been approached by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to help her party Trinamool Congress defend its turf in the 2021 Assembly election.

The JD(U)’s alliance partner Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which is buoyed by its performance in West Bengal in the Lok Sabha election, had not taken to it kindly. Just 24 hours prior to the meeting, Kumar