Prashant Kishor’s merry-go-round and DMK’s ‘legal advice’ to leaders

Welcome to Powertrip, a newsletter exclusively curated for TNM Subscribers by Dhanya Rajendran, Shabbir Ahmed and Pooja Prasanna. In this issue, we talk about Prashant Kishor in Andhra Pradesh, DMK's advice to its bigwigs, Karnataka Congress and the Ram Mandir, and Jagan's strategy to deal with anti-incumbency..Inside TrackExclusive stories, for your eyes only..Prashant Kishor’s Andhra merry-go-roundPolitical strategist Prashant Kishor (PK) is on a merry-go-round in Andhra Pradesh. During the 2019 Assembly elections, he was with Jagan Mohan Reddy, but this time he is ‘helping’ Jagan’s arch nemesis Chandrababu Naidu. When Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh received PK at the Hyderabad airport in December and PK’s subsequent meeting with Naidu created a lot of buzz, both sides played it down saying it was a courtesy meeting. However, it was anything but that.We have been told that PK is guiding Showtime, the political agency that TDP has hired, and has daily morning meetings with Naidu, Lokesh, and the team. These meetings discuss strategy, campaign issues, and most importantly, YSRCP’s weak points. According to people we spoke to, the big focus is on leaders who are vexed with the YSRCP and will abandon the party. Talks are being initiated with many, but primarily with those who can either bring in the moolah or a community’s backing. YSRCP Kurnool MP Sanjeev Kumar has already quit the party; he has held multiple meetings with TDP and Showtime. His entry into the TDP will be announced as soon as a few last things are ironed out.PK is involved in the entire election planning for the TDP. What makes the partnership even stranger is that Jagan and his party, YSRCP, continues to work with IPAC, PK’s brainchild. IPAC is headed by Rishi Raj Singh, a former colleague of PK’s. Showtime is helmed by Robbin Sharrma, who was also formerly with IPAC and has been colleagues with both Rishi and PK. That’s really how small this circle is and what never fails to surprise us is how political parties are also happy to play merry-go-round. Hire your own lawyers, DMK bigwigs toldAfter what happened to Senthil Balaji and Ponmudy – both top DMK leaders facing legal setbacks – the party has told all those who face serious cases, including that of disproportionate assets, to engage lawyers of their own choice. The DMK legal wing had come under criticism for not handling these cases well, and just in the beginning of the week, advocate general Shanmugasundaram had resigned. We have learnt that all DMK leaders have been told that they can engage any senior lawyer of their choice while the party legal wing will continue to advise and help them. When Ponmudy’s case came up in the Supreme Court on January 12, it was senior counsels Mukul Rohatgi and Siddharth Luthra who represented him. And it’s not just in the Supreme Court, but leaders have been told that they can engage lawyers in the lower courts too. Karnataka Congress’s tightrope walk on Ram MandirThe Congress high command has decided to brave it by declining the invitation to the Ram temple inauguration. The party unit in Karnataka hasn’t got an invite, but still wants to ensure it doesn’t ruffle any feathers. This is why the government has announced a special pooja in all Murzrai (govt controlled) temples on January 22. Whose decision was it? Fingers point to Minister Ramalinga Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar. But we have learnt that the Chief Minister was not averse to the idea and when it was mooted to him, he said, “It’s fine. It’s an emotional issue.” We have also been told that if uncomfortable questions are raised on the Congress’ wishy-washy position, everyone has been directed to speak about the Sankaracharyas and their decision not to attend the inauguration. Jagan’s preemptive strategy to beat anti-incumbencyAssembly elections in Andhra are at least four months away but the ruling YSRCP does not want to wait. The third candidate list is already out and 67 names have been announced. Having learnt from KCR’s missteps that led to his defeat in Telangana, Jagan wants to avoid repeating MLAs who are facing anti-incumbency, we are told. So, in a bid to stay ahead of the game, Jagan has announced over 20 new faces, given a few popular MPs tickets to contest in the Assembly polls, and in a few other cases, reshuffled the constituencies of the MLAs. And the early announcement will give them enough time to campaign.This poses the risk of miffed candidates looking to jump to other parties but that’s a chance Jagan is willing to take..Zero HourA political story of public importance.Between faith and livelihood: Days before Ram Temple inauguration, fear and excitement in Ayodhya.Locals are pleased with the temple’s construction, but discontent brews over Ayodhya’s transformation wrecking homes and livelihoods..PowermovesTop 5 political storiesHow Tamil Nadu government turned the tables on EDMagic messiah or manipulator? Kerala magician Muthukad under fireFake news targeting Siddaramaiah and Congress govt escalates in KarnatakaWho is BV Nagarathna, the SC judge who sent Bilkis Bano rapists back to jailHindutva groups start temple dress code campaign in Bengaluru, want ‘sattvic’ clothes