Prashant Kishor loses cool as Karan Thapar reminds him of earlier prediction failing
New Delhi: Noted election strategist Prashant Kishor found himself in the hot seat during an interview with Karan Thapar for The Wire. The conversation took a tense turn as Kishor was reminded about his past predictions in Himachal Pradesh and Telangana.
Kishor, renowned for his role in designing election campaigns for Prime Minister Modi and the BJP in 2014, has since worked with various political parties across the country. Now embarking on a Jana Swaraj Yatra in Bihar, he aims to establish "Jana Swaraj" as a political entity for the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections.
During the interview, Kishor confidently forecasted that the BJP would secure over 300 seats in the next election. Despite potential losses in the North, he believed gains in the South and East would offset any shortfall. However, contrary reports and surveys suggest a different result, hinting at potential setbacks for the BJP.
Tensions rose when Thapar questioned Kishor about his earlier prediction regarding the Congress's performance in the Himachal Pradesh Vidhan Sabha elections. Kishor, visibly irked, was seen asking Thapar to either show a video of him saying so or apologise.
Karan Thapar asked Prashant who looked very upset, “Do you want to continue the interview or do you want to stop?'', which made him even more annoyed. “I can face not one but four like you, I know how to deal with you well. I will not get up.” he is seen saying.
As the interview progressed, Kishor's frustration mounted, leading to heated exchanges and even comparisons to Narendra Modi's infamous 2007 interview with Thapar.
Kishor had previously predicted a rout for the Congress in Himachal Pradesh and Telangana in May 2022 and September 2023 respectively. But the Congress won the Assembly polls in both states., contrary to Kishor’s predictions.
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India deploys indigenous ‘suicide drones’ in strikes on terror camps in Pakistan, PoK: Report
New Delhi: In a retaliatory move following the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed the lives of 26 civilians, the Indian Army reportedly carried out precision strikes on terror camps located in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) using indigenously developed “suicide drones.”
Dubbed Operation Sindoor, the strikes signify a tactical evolution in India’s defence capabilities. According to defence sources, the operation marked the first known use of indigenously-manufactured loitering munition systems in an active combat scenario.
These drones, officially known as Low-Cost Miniature Swarm Drones or Loitering Munitions, are believed to be the SkyStriker variant, a product jointly developed by Bengaluru-based Alpha Design Technologies and Israel’s Elbit Systems.
Unlike traditional UAVs, loitering munitions hover over target areas, identify threats, and strike with precision, effectively blending the features of surveillance drones and guided missiles. Each SkyStriker unit can carry a 5 to 10 kg warhead, has a range of around 100 kilometers, and operates silently due to its electric propulsion, making it ideal for low-altitude, stealth missions.
Sources indicate that the Indian Army placed an emergency order for around 100 SkyStriker drones in 2021, with manufacturing taking place at a facility in western Bengaluru. These drones are considered cost-effective and efficient tools against unconventional threats, providing frontline forces with real-time reconnaissance and offensive capabilities without endangering personnel.
Although there is no official confirmation from the Indian government about the use of these drones, political leaders across party lines have praised the armed forces for the successful execution of Operation Sindoor.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has temporarily suspended flight operations at key airports including Karachi, Lahore, and Sialkot amid heightened tensions.
