Dissent On Prashant Kishor's Induction, Sonia Gandhi to Decide: Sources

Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi worked with Prashant Kishor in the run-up to the last Uttar Pradesh elections and sources say they have no objection to his joining the party

Congress chief Sonia Gandhi will take a final call on the induction of election strategist Prashant Kishor in the party after a series of meetings with senior leaders, many of whom are opposed to the idea, sources told NDTV today. Mr Kishor, who had a botched stint with Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United), had a series of meetings with the three Gandhis in July, where a role for him in the party was explored in detail. Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi worked with Mr Kishor in the run-up to the last Uttar Pradesh elections and sources say they have no objection to his joining the party. But the party's senior leaders are divided over the recruitment, with some keen, saying it would be good optics for the party. Others say the wild card entry will not make a difference and the Gandhis must be ready to listen and engage with party leaders and workers, which they have stopped doing. Mr Kishor had shared a list of plans to be implemented by the party from public rallies, opposition get-together's and a host of other not-so-suitable plans for the Congress.