Did TMC strategist concede BJP is winning Bengal in TMC's internal survey? Here's the full story
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New Delhi: Prashant Kishor, Mamata Banerjee's election strategist for the Bengal polls, appears to say that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "as popular as" the Chief Minister in the state in excerpts of a Clubhouse chat posted on Twitter by the BJP's Amit Malviya this morning. The bombshell audio clips dropped as Bengal voted in the fourth round of polls and triggered a wave of triumphant posts from BJP leaders who crowed "Game Over, Trinamool".
In the chat last evening with journalists, Mr. Kishor also appeared to say polarization, anger against the Mamata Banerjee government, and Dalit votes were the three factors working in favor of the BJP in this election.
"The TMC's election has just been thrown away," Amit Malviya, the BJP's social media in-charge, posted on the clips that have gone viral in the middle of the nerve-wracking Mamata Banerjee versus BJP campaign.
Is it open?
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 10, 2021
That moment when Mamata Banerjee’s strategiest realised that the Club House room was open and his admissions were being heard by the public at large and not just a handful of Lutyens journalist.
Deafening silence followed...
TMC’s election was just thrown away! pic.twitter.com/2XJ4RWbv3K
In his first response to the damning tweets, Mr Kishor dared the BJP to release the full transcript of the chat on Clubhouse, an invitation-only social media app that enables audio discussions on chatrooms.
“I am glad BJP guys are taking my Clubhouse chat more seriously than the words or their own leaders. With regards to the selective and distorted use of part of the conversation, I urge them to release the full conversation,” the poll strategist told NDTV.
He also tweeted: “They should show courage and share the full chat instead of getting excited with selective use of parts of it. I have said this before and repeating again - BJP will not to CROSS 100 in WB. Period.”
I am glad BJP is taking my chat more seriously than words of their own leaders!?
— Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) April 10, 2021
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.
To underline his point on selective leaks, Mr Kishor flagged one of the audio clips posted by Mr Malviya in which he talks about what he calls the perception that the BJP will win the Bengal election.
Mr Kishor says in the clip: "If there is a vote, then it is in the name of Modi, in the name of being Hindu. Polarisation, Modi, SC (Scheduled Castes), Hindi-speaking - these are the factors. So whether a Hindu is going or Prashant Kishor is coming, that has no bearing. That is not the issue. Modi is popular here. Hindi-speaking people have more than one crore votes. Dalits are 27 per cent and they stand with the BJP fully. Plus, there is definitely polarization."
A journalist asks, "Which way will the Matua community vote?"
The reply: "Matuas will be predominantly voting for the BJP, not as unitedly as they did in Lok Sabha. I feel it will be 75 BJP to 25 Trinamool. We do a survey saying who will you vote for and who will form the government. (The answer to) 'who will form government' is predominantly BJP. We analyzed why this is. This is because those who are BJP voters are anyway saying BJP will come to power. The 15% of voters who are Left - two-thirds of them believe BJP forming govt. So you will always hear a majority saying BJP is coming to power. Left supporters say, whatever happens, if BJP comes to power then we are back in business, at least Mamata (Banerjee) should lose now. This is a matter of perception. The substantive issue on the ground is people think BJP does not have workers on the ground. That is not true. BJP has many workers on the ground. And they may all be imported from Left but they are working dedicatedly for the BJP. There is no area in Bengal where BJP does not have strong cadre."
The Matuas are lower caste Hindu refugees from Bangladesh who can impact Bengal votes significantly. Mr Kishor is asked, "Then who's voting for Trinamool?"
He replies, "50-55% Hindus are voting for BJP..." before the audio cuts off.
In a public chat on Club House, Mamata Banerjee’s election strategist concedes that even in TMC’s internal surveys, BJP is winning.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) April 10, 2021
The vote is for Modi, polarisation is a reality, the SCs (27% of WB’s population), Matuas are all voting for the BJP!
BJP has cadre on ground. pic.twitter.com/3ToYuvWfRm
Responding to the clip, Mr. Kishor said today: "For example, this was said in response to the question - how BJP is getting about 40% vote and why there is a perception that BJP is winning?"
In another clip, Mr. Kishor appears to concede that there is anger against the Mamata Banerjee government in the state but not against the Centre.
Journalists ask why PM Modi is popular in Bengal and why there is no anti-incumbency against his government despite the economic crisis.
The strategist replies: "No there isn't. There is a cult of Modi in the entire country."
He also comments: "Modi is popular in Bengal. We are doing a survey on leaders and PM Modi and Mamata are equally popular, which is a very big thing."
Amit Malviya said in his tweets that Mr. Kishor "spoke too much without realizing that the conversation is not private and is being recorded".
After four more rounds of voting in Bengal, results will be declared on May 2.
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Akeal Hosein bosses powerplay overs with 'skill and mental fortitude'
New Delhi (PTI): For a spinner who bowls majority of his overs in the powerplay, Chennai Super Kings' West Indian import Akeal Hosein relies as much on mental fortitude as his skills to excel in the most unforgiving phase of the game.
With just two fielders in the deep in the first six overs, the margin for error is miniscule and the pressure is sky high.
However, Hosein thrives in that tense environment. The left-arm spinner returned with frugal figures of 3-0-15-1 in the powerplay to play a crucial role in his team's eight-wicket win over Delhi Capitals in an IPL match here on Tuesday.
"You need both of them (skill and mental toughness). Especially when you come upon pitches that aren't conducive to spin and it's just about being disciplined as well," he said.
"Having two fielders out in the power play. It's not a job that you can go searching for wickets or you can be too greedy. It's just about sticking to the plan," he explained.
Hosein got the all-important wicket of an in-form K L Rahul, who was foxed by the West Indian as he stepped out to smash him for an inside out six.
Hosein's inclusion in the playing eleven after not being picked in the initial phase of the tournament has allowed CSK to win more games. On Tuesday, the pitch offered him a bit of help and he ended up dominating the batters.
After the win over DC, Hosein was asked about his recipe for success in the powerplay.
"...it's a bit scripted because you only have two guys out so it's just about being disciplined and trying to do the job for the team. At the end of the day if you don't get wickets and you bowl economically in the power play, that's a damn good job you've done for the team," said Hosein.
He has taken seven wickets in five games at an impressive economy rate of 7.25.
Fully aware that the batter is a mere couple of hits away from putting the pressure back on him, Hosein says practising for high-pressure situations helps him stay in the present.
"I think homework is very important. You want to have that head-start when you come up against whichever batter you're going to face. And like I say it's just about making assessments as quickly as possible.
"You might come up on a pitch that is spinning. You might come up against one that isn't spinning. Thankfully I can spin the ball. So it's just about picking which deliveries will give you the most success on a particular day and against a particular batter," said Hosein.
He got rid of Rahul first ball from the other end, something that was decided by captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Post powerplay, Noor Ahmad took over the mantle from Hosein and maintained the pressure on DC batters.
"Getting the opportunity to bowl first for me is just about again making that assessment as quickly as possible and then passing on that information to Noor or even to the seamers as well if it was a bit of spin or if it's gripping or whatever the case is.
"So conversations with myself and Noor have been fantastic. Really happy for him that he's getting some success," he added.
