'On a temporary break': Prashant Kishor quits as adviser to Punjab CM ahead of 2022 Polls
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Chandigarh, Aug 5: Prashant Kishor, an electoral strategist, resigned as Principal Advisor to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday, stating that he was taking a "temporary sabbatical from active participation in public life".
Prashant Kishor stated in a letter to Amarinder Singh that he will "not be engaged" in the state elections in 2022 and that he had not yet decided on his next step.
"In view of my decision to take a temporary break from active role in public life, I've not been able to take over the responsibilities as your Principal Advisor. I request you to kindly relieve me from this responsibility," Kishor said.
This might hurt the Chief Minister of Punjab as leaving him in ahead of the Assembly elections and that too when he is striving to work out for a power-sharing agreement with his political opponent, Navjot Sidhu.
In March 2021, Kishor was appointed as the Principal Advisor to CM Singh. Taking to Twitter, CM Amarinder Singh had said, “Happy to share that Prashant Kishor has joined me as my Principal Advisor. Look forward to working together for the betterment of the people of Punjab”.
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He was given powers similar to a cabinet minister. Reportedly, in May 2021 the Supreme Court has sought a response from the State Congress government in Punjab in connection with a petition challenging the appointment of poll strategist Prashant Kishor as principal adviser (cabinet rank) to chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
Recently, Kishor’s work came into limelight after Trinamool Congress won the state assembly elections in West Bengal. He had helped the Mamata Banerjee-led party to win against the BJP and become CM for the third time in a row.
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Kishor has been into party politics in Delhi as a result of Mamata Banerjee's win in Bengal. He met with all three Gandhis last month to discuss the prospect of a more active participation in the 2024 campaign, whether as an advisor or as a Congress member.