Prashant Kishor's audio tape on BJP's Bengal prospects goes viral, TMC caught off-guard

In a series of tweets, BJP co-incharge of West Bengal, Amit Malviya, shared some clippings of the tape on the day the state headed to the fourth phase of the high-octane elections.

The audio tape of a Club House Room chat, has not been verified by IBNS.

Considering polarisation as one of the biggest issues in the elections, Prashant was heard saying, "The vote is taking place in the name of Modi, Hindu card. Modi, polarisation, Hindi-speaking people, Scheduled Caste community are the factors in the elections.

"The issue is not Suvendu's exit or Prashant Kishor's entry. Modi is popular here. There is more than one crore votes of the Hindi-speaking people, 27 per cent of the total population is Dalit and they are unitedly standing with the BJP. Above all, there is polarisation."

Prashant also felt the BJP in the ongoing polls would be benefitted from the votes of the Matua community, which had favoured the saffron party in the 2019 General Elections.

"Matua will be predominantly voting for the BJP, not as unitedly as they did in Lok Sabha (2019 General Elections) but I think 75 per cent of the community will vote for the BJP and 25 per cent for the Trinamool," he said.

When asked as to who would then vote for the TMC if the BJP gets so much support, Prashant clarified, "I have said 50-55 per cent of the Hindus are voting for the BJP."

On the perception battle, the political strategist, who was roped in by the TMC post-Lok Sabha poll debacle, said, "In surveys on who is going to form the government, we found people are predominantly heard saying the BJP is going to form the government. We analysed this and found that it is because not only the BJP voters are saying their party is coming to power but two-third of the 10-15 per cent Left voters are also saying the same.

"So one will hear that the majority of the people are saying the BJP is going to form the government. The Left voters are saying whatever may happen if the BJP comes, Mamata Banerjee should be defeated. It is a matter of perception."

Prashant has also highlighted the "blatant minority appeasement" in the state, which is ruled by the TMC for 10 years, as one of the reasons behind the BJP's meteoric rise in West Bengal politics.

He said, "The major problem which we have to accept is that for 20 years, there has been a blatant effort to appease the minorities. Now in Bengal, there is a common feeling that the party, which will get Muslim votes, will form the goverment. The entire political ecosystem of the Congress, Left or Didi was about getting the Muslim votes.

"For the first time, Hindus are feeling represented, not necessarily the society is totally wrong. There is some element which BJP is exploiting and that element is coming from the blatant misuse of minority politics by some of these parties. We can't deny that."

Prashant, who was once a political aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was heard saying people are angry with the Mamata Banerjee government but not the Centre.

He said, "There is no anti-incumbency against Modi. Modi is a cult which has developed in the entire country. The degree may vary but there is a section of people which perceives Modi as a God. The core base of Modi's support here is the Hindi-speaking people, added to that there is an anti-incumbency against the state government but not against the Centre.

"In terms of leaders as we have surveyed, Modi and Mamata are equally popular, which is a very big thing. Modi is also popular because Bengal has not tasted the BJP yet. People are thinking they might get something from the BJP which they didn't for the last 30-35 years."

Prashant, interestingly, had tweeted in Dec 2020 that the BJP would struggle to cross the 99-seat mark in the polls or else he would quit his profession of political aide.

Taking a dig at the TMC, Malviya said in a tweet, "On a day Bengal is voting for 4th phase on as many as 44 seats, TMC cadre and leaders woke up to find out that Mamata Banerjee’s election strategist has conceded the election.

"Every voter in Bengal has these videos on their mobile and is watching them as s(he) queues up to vote."

Prashant has reacted to the viral audio clip and said the clippings were taken out of context and once again reiterated that the BJP would not touch 100 when votes were counted on May 2.

He tweeted, "I am glad BJP is taking my chat more seriously than words of their own leaders! They should show courage & share the full chat instead of getting excited with selective use of parts of it. I have said this before & repeating again - BJP will not to CROSS 100 in WB. Period."

Reacting to the entire episode as a party spokesperson, TMC MP Derek O'Brien told a local channel, "I request the BJP to release the full audio and then we would hold a press conference. The BJP has released the tape on the election day as they are sure of losing in this phase of the polls."