Mamata Banerjee, the party's chief, told NDTV today that the Trinamool Congress will continue to engage with political strategist Prashant Kishor. Ms Banerjee's remark came days after Mr Kishor's failed effort to join the Congress party. Ms Banerjee was re-elected in Bengal with the aid of Prashant Kishor's IPAC.
Last week, Prashant Kishor's (PK) talks with Congress to join the grand old party fell through when Congress refused to accept his requests for a free role in the party. Instead, Congress offered him membership in the party's "Empowered Action Group," which he turned down.
According to party insiders, a portion of the Congress accused Mr Kishor's lack of "ideological" commitment, citing the IPAC's partnership with Telangana's government as an example.
According to party insiders, Mr Kishor's lack of "ideological" commitment was noted by a section of the Congress, pointing to the IPAC's relationship with Telangana's ruling party, the Trinamool Congress.
Mamata Banerjee told NDTV that senior Trinamool Congress leaders expressed similar worries, but that it was "made clear" to them that the party would continue to work with him.
"There were differences of view on his role even within the Trinamool Congress," she said, "but it was made plain that the association with him as an election strategist will continue.
Prashant Kishor, who was drafted by Mamata Banerjee for her Bengal election campaign, is still working for her party, despite the fact that it won a landslide victory last year.
He has been helpful in attracting veterans from opposing parties, primarily the Congress, for the Trinamool in recent months. He's also talked about Mamata Banerjee as a prospective pivot for an opposition coalition to take on the BJP in the national election of 2024.