Take a break: Prashant Kishor's advice to Rahul Gandhi

In an interview with PTI, Kishor said it would be "undemocratic" on his part to continue spearheading the party if Congress loses the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Kishor said, "He needs to take a break. He has fought three elections without success for any reason. There is no harm in stepping back and handing over the responsibility to someone else for five years.

"So I feel it's undemocratic on his part to not let go of the leadership despite not being able to succeed."

If Congress loses the upcoming elections, it would be the third consecutive term where the grand old party will be out of power.

After being routed in 2014, Congress lost the 2019 General Elections facing the Modi wave across the country.

"He (Rahul Gandhi) is doing exactly the opposite thing to what he had said in the resignation letter in 2019. He should make this issue a matter of ego because Congress is beyond an individual or any particular formation," Kishor said.

Kishor, who aided a number of opposition leaders over the years, had started talks with the Congress top brass in signing a deal to revive the grand old party.

However, the two sides failed to meet at an agreement and Kishor went on with his political venture.

Analysing Rahul's style of working, Kishor, who helped Congress to win Punjab in 2017, said, "As long as a leader does not recognise that he needs help, no one would be able to help. A leader is someone who is aware of his strengths and weaknesses.

"Then they go out and actively search for those who can fill that gap. Rahul Gandhi feels he knows everything. He needs somebody who can come and execute what he thinks is right. That is not possible."

The 2024 General Elections will be held in seven phases from April 19 to June 1. The results will be declared on June 4.