Bangalore: The DK Shivakumar authorities has secured a cupboard place for Congress ballot marketing consultant Sunil Kanugol because the demand for cupboard seats continues to develop in Karnataka.
Mr. Kanugol, an elusive and media-shy determine who works largely behind the scenes in Parliament, has been reappointed because the Karnataka chief minister’s “chief advisor.” He is likely one of the few individuals allowed to proceed serving regardless of the altering of the guard in southern states.
“Mr. Kanugol has been concerned in conducting surveys for elections, measuring authorities perceptions and even accumulating suggestions on numerous programmes,” a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) instructed ThePrint.
The official added that Kanugol’s earlier function as chief advisor to former CM Siddaramaiah was restricted to presupposing studies with particular inputs and was not concerned in any political technique, planning or coverage making.
Though Kanugol is a key member of the AICC, he’s primarily perceived as a ballot strategist, touring from state to state gathering intelligence and field-level intelligence that the get together can use to gauge authorities perceptions, formulate campaigns and lay the groundwork throughout elections.
Nevertheless, the Congress retains key decision-making processes inside itself and is reluctant to outsource such duties, get together sources instructed ThePrint.
“Not like different events and leaders like Uddhav Thackeray, Jagan Mohan Reddy and TMC (Trinamool Congress), we as a corporation haven’t given full management to exterior companies. Our ideology and elegance of labor are very totally different,” stated the official quoted above.
Mr. Kanugol is a former chairman of the Affiliation of Sensible Minds (ABM), the BJP’s private marketing campaign arm, and is presently the top of Mindshare Analytics, based mostly in Hyderabad.
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CM advisor
In 2023, Kanugol was one of many few non-elected MPs in Karnataka to attain the coveted ‘ministerial standing’, which comes with particular privileges equivalent to protocol precedence, a government-allocated bungalow, hefty allowances and different perks.
Kanugol is credited with designing the “40 % Committee Authorities” marketing campaign, which was the idea for parliamentary polls within the run-up to the 2023 parliamentary elections.
Quickly after, he was posted in Telangana, the place his crew is alleged to have performed a pivotal function in serving to the Congress come to energy in 2023.
Though Kanugol loved unrestricted entry, he was not given any ministerial standing in Telangana. He additionally enjoys good relations with Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Congress leaders stated.
To date, Kanugol’s function in Karnataka has been restricted. Folks aware of his work stated he interacted with Siddaramaiah only some occasions throughout his CM days.
“He has met Mr Siddaramaiah, however not as a result of the CM wanted recommendation. He has shared info and suggestions on the affect of ensures and different authorities programmes. He generally reaches out to get info from voters earlier than vital elections,” stated one of many Chief Minister’s Workplace (CMO).
Siddaramaiah’s authorities has given greater than 100 ministerial positions to non-ministers, together with two parliamentary secretaries, finance, media and authorized advisors, chair of the Assurance Implementation Program, and even board and firm heads.
After Siddaramaiah resigned, the cupboard was dissolved.
Mr. Kanugol instantly approached Mr. Revanth Reddy for the same place in Telangana, stated an individual conscious of the developments. Nevertheless, no official order relating to this was issued.
“The advisory publish just isn’t given to offer recommendation. Since he’s not an MLA or MLC, he can’t turn out to be a minister. Due to this fact, he has chosen to get a ministerial place which comes with sure privileges,” one other one that has beforehand labored with Kanugol instructed ThePrint.
There may be unlikely to be any change in his function as Shivakumar’s “chief of employees”, get together officers stated.
In response to sources, Kanugol is a detailed aide to AICC Secretary Common KC Venugopal and is believed to be performing as a liaison between him and the states he’s accountable for.
Kanugol’s technique
Kanugol has a core crew of trusted lieutenants who he depends on for info and perception. From 2021 to 2023, he and his crew have been lively in additional than six or seven states concurrently, in keeping with individuals who beforehand labored with him.
In Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot’s refusal to offer assets and intelligence to Kanugol’s crew was largely as a result of former CM’s tense relationship with the Congress excessive command. Kanugol was given a free hand in states equivalent to Karnataka, Kerala and Telangana, he stated.
In Rajasthan, Kanugol is alleged to have met Gehlot only some occasions, whereas in Bihar his presence was restricted to interacting along with his personal crew. “Even when he was not in Bihar in the course of the election interval, he all the time attended Bihar-related conferences held in Delhi,” the official stated.
His “core crew” consists of seven to 10 individuals, in keeping with individuals who have labored with him beforehand. We used to have a much bigger crew. “This core crew is a group of individuals on whom Mr. Kanugol is totally dependent,” stated the particular person quoted above.
Kanugol has workplaces in Bengaluru and Hyderabad and has round 30-40 workers in every state. A few of his colleagues journey forwards and backwards between totally different states.
Individuals who have labored with Mr. Kanugol stated that though he runs large-scale operations in a number of states, he stays largely non-public and barely meets with leaders until directed to take action by the AICC, notably Venugopal.
“Provided that Venugopal asks somebody to fulfill him, he agrees to fulfill him. In any other case, he doesn’t take part in such conferences,” the supply stated.
Mr. Kanugol will solely bodily attend conferences with prime leaders. “Solely when there are vital decision-making conferences equivalent to partnership or ticket distribution, Kanugol comes immediately. In any other case, his core crew makes the preparations,” the particular person stated.
Nevertheless, earlier than the ticket distribution train, conduct a minimum of 5 to 6 conferences lasting a minimum of seven to eight hours.
“He’ll talk about each seat intimately, ask questions, play satan’s advocate and query each motive attributed to each candidate in each constituency. Solely then will he attend a gathering with get together leaders,” the supply stated.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
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