In the post-Prashant Kishor era, proteges are vying to ‘Pac’k a punch

BENGALURU: When the BJP led NDA stormed the Centre with a majority in 2014, the behind the scenes driving force of the victory was a little-known political consultant firm called I-Pac and its founder Prashant Kishor.
Kishor, or PK as he is called, has since become a household name and the master political strategist has been there, done that and even retired from the consultancy business.
But PK’s legacy has thrived, carried forward by several of his ‘associates’ branching out to set up their own political management firms —big and small. While PK himself is missing from the scenes ahead of Karnataka elections, many of these associates are busy drawing up what they hope will be winning plans. Sources say they are pitching ideas to possible candidates, citing their “association” with I-Pac and PK.
It is said an estimated 50 consultancy firms — a staggering figure — are working in Karnataka and at least a third of them claim links with PK or I-Pac. Besides major parties, some MLAs too have engaged consultants to map the ground before they plunge in.
Sources say at least two firms hired by BJP and Congress are run by PK’s proteges, as is a firm hired by MB Patil, chairman, Congress campaign committee. Party and industry sources say BJP has set up ‘Varahi’, an in-house election management firm to spearhead campaign management in Karnataka.
Congress has hired a political management firm called ‘Mindshare’ which is helping the party mount a challenge to BJP. Sources suggest the upper-tire management staff of both these companies were previously associated with PK. Such has been Kishor’s impact that even JD(S) has hired a smaller firm — filled with PK’s apostles — which is driving their social media and election campaign.
“It is true that most consultants in the field, including those working with JD(S) over four months, are professionals who worked with PK and I-Pac,” said KA Thippeswamy, JD(S) MLC. A consultant managing campaigns of at least 10 MLAs said the name Kishor serves as an USP for those branching out from bigger election management firms.
But another consultant said, “In most cases, people pitching ideas to candidates claim to be PK’s boys just to gain credibility.” The jury is also out on the effectiveness of using political consultants in electioneering. Capt Ganesh Karnik, BJP spokesperson, said: “The advent of political consultants and election management firms are rooted in Kishor’s rise to fame.” “...But more importantly, they bring a degree of professionalism to politics.
All parties have benefitted from their infusion.” But Ramesh Babu, Congress media co-chair, said these firms cannot be the driving force.
“We have stalwarts like Mallikarjun Kharge, Siddaramaiah and DK Shivakumar, each with over 40 years of political experience,” Babu said. “When you compare their style of functioning and experience with political consultants, there is a chasm in understanding the pulse of people. Their inputs are definitely valuable but not always.”