Priyanka Vadra, Prashant Kishor met after Bihar rout: Report
What's the story
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jan Suraaj chief Prashant Kishor met last week at Sonia Gandhi's 10, Janpath residence in Delhi, NDTV reported, citing sources. The meeting comes after a disappointing performance in the Bihar elections for both leaders. While Vadra has refused to comment on the meeting, saying "Nobody is interested in who I meet... or who I don't," Kishor has denied that any such meeting took place, the report stated.
Election results
Kishor's party and Congress face election defeat
The Jan Suraaj party, which Kishor heads, had a dismal debut in the Bihar elections. It contested 238 Assembly seats but failed to win any. The Congress fared slightly better, winning six out of 61 seats, which is nevertheless 13 fewer than their previous tally. This dismal performance has sparked speculation about a possible revival of ties between the two leaders.
History revisited
Kishor's past association with Congress and its fallout
Kishor has had a history of working with the Congress, albeit with mixed results. In 2017, he helped then-Congress leader Amarinder Singh defeat the BJP-Akali Dal in Punjab but suffered a setback when the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance lost in Uttar Pradesh. Despite this, Rahul Gandhi was not convinced about Kishor joining the party.
New beginnings
Kishor's departure from Congress and subsequent political ventures
Kishor later left the Congress, saying the party needed leadership to fix deep-rooted structural problems. He then formed Jan Suraaj, which aimed to change Bihar's political landscape. Despite his efforts, the party failed to make a mark in the elections. The defeats may signal a shift in the equation between Kishor and Congress ahead of the crucial upcoming elections in Assam and Tamil Nadu.