On 2 February 2024, Indian Express conducted an exclusive discussion with Prashant Kishor during the ‘Express Adda Inside Politics’ event. Kishor as the guest was engaged in a conversation with Anant Goenka, Executive Director of The Indian Express, and Vandita Mishra, National Opinion Editor of The Indian Express.
#ExpressAdda | Poll strategist Prashant Kishor joins us today to talk about the latest flip-flop in Patna, its impact on the rest of the nation and if the 2024 polls are really a foregone conclusion.
Tune in on YouTube at 10:00 am: https://t.co/408Zq0usif
— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) February 2, 2024
Prashant Kishor has extensive experience as a political strategist, having worked for various political parties, including the BJP, JD(U), INC, AAP, YSRCP, DMK, and TMC. His notable contributions include his work in the 2011 Gujarat Assembly Elections, where he assisted Narendra Modi in securing re-election as Chief Minister. Kishor gained widespread recognition when Citizens for Accountable Governance (CAG), an election campaign group he conceptualized, played a crucial role in helping the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, secure an absolute majority in the 2014 Lok Sabha election.
During his interview, he commented on various current political affairs. He expressed his perplexity at Rahul Gandhi embarking on a Yatra from Manipur two months before the Lok Sabha polls. Additionally, he noted that Nitish Kumar’s influence over voters seems to have diminished due to numerous policy reversals. Furthermore, he highlighted that from June 2023 to February 2024, the INDIA bloc has made minimal efforts to engage with the public.
However, Tamilnadu netizens expressed particular joy when they discovered interview questions related to the state’s politics. When Goenka asked Kishor about investments in a list of political leaders, Kishor sarcastically dismissed them as poor investments. This humorous exchange caught the attention of netizens, who used the video clip to engage in trolling and enjoy some light-hearted banter.
In a viral one-minute video, Anant Goenka playfully prompts Prashant Kishor to choose politicians as stocks, but Kishor declines, humorously labeling the mentioned politicians as “potted plants” destined for poor performance.
Anant Goenka: If you are a stock picker and these politicians were stocks (immediately the crowd and Kishor started laughing) who would you bet on, who would you bet on or shall I give you a list, you want to tell me who will you bet on?
Prashant Kishor: I will not
Anant Goenka: Okay’ll Akhilesh yadav, Adithya Thackrey, Chirag Paswan, KTR, Jegan Reddy, Raghav Chaddha, Omar Abbdullah, Udhayanidhi Stalin and Abhishek Banerjee
Prashant Kishor: Look what he is mentioning, all potted plants (crowd laughing) see he wants me to pick from 10 bad stocks which are going to be multi-badder. None.
Apparently, according to Prashant Kishore, Udhaynidhi is not a Dravidian stock, he is a bad stock 😆 pic.twitter.com/iaThml9Nbg
— Krishna Kumar Murugan (@ikkmurugan) February 3, 2024
Internet users began trolling and posting sarcastic comments directed at Udayanidhi Stalin, engaging in online criticism and mockery of his actions.
PK would have known first hand working with him in 2021.
— Shelby (@shelbyygun) February 3, 2024
Bad DStock. 😂
— Adi | 🇮🇳 (@AdiSpeaX) February 3, 2024
பங்கம்… ஆனால் அவர் பேசியது சம்பந்தப்பட்ட நபருக்கு புரிய வேண்டுமே…😜 எழுதிக் கொடுத்தாலும் படிக்க வராது. தெரிந்தது எல்லாம் பெரியார், சமூக நீதி, நீட் ஒழிப்பு, சனாதன ஒழிப்பு, பாஜக ஒழிப்பு…
ஒழிப்பு இல்லை வேரறுப்பு…nothing positive..— jamadhagni (@Sankaranrs1) February 3, 2024
During the same interview when Anant Goenka asks Prashant Kishor about the needed change in Dravidian politics, and Prashant Kishor expresses concern over the excessive influence of money, citing that elections in Southern states are becoming incredibly expensive, with spending surpassing even that of Northern India, calling it a worrisome trend.
Anant Goenka: The one thing that needs to be changed in Dravidian politics?
Prashant Kishor: Dravidian politics?
Anant Goenka: Yes
Prashant Kishor: Dependant on cash. It is a sad affair for some of the most prosperous and well-performing states, the influence of the money in politics is far greater and worrisome than what it is in Northern India. So, elections in Tamilnadu, Andra, Telangana, Karnataka to some extent now in Maharastra also are becoming so expensive, and the kind the money, which we hear and see is just unimaginable. An MP… member of parliament in Tamilnadu the money which they spent probably is good enough to fight the whole state in the north. It’s sad
“The money spent by Dravidian parties to fight 1 MP seat in Tamilnadu is the money that will be typically spent in one North Indian state. It this sad!” – Prashant Kishor on Dravidian Parties
Annamalai refers to the same thing in TN as “Cost of Politics in TN” pic.twitter.com/skbkCtxee2
— இந்தா வாயின்கோ – Take That (@indhavaainko) February 3, 2024
Netizens, in response to Kishor’s remark, criticized Dravidian parties for their widespread use of money in politics, expressing their dissent.
@TN_BJP_IT_Wing @MSBalajiMSB @karthikgnath – It is a fitting video to be subtitled in Tamil and spread across TN for creating vast awareness !! All this nonsense started as “Tirumangalam Formula”, unfortunately, still continuing @Selvakumar_IN @HLKodo @Arunmozhi_Raaja @vijayshan
— Ravi (Sanatani) (@ravicrab) February 3, 2024
Electoral corruption is the biggest contribution of the Dravidian parties to Indian Democracy. Started in the 70's and perfected by MK Alagiri in Tirumangalam
— Sriram Veeraraghavan (@SriramVeerarag3) February 3, 2024
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