Bengaluru: Ballot strategist Sunil Kanugolu, amongst these credited with creating a number of of the Congress’ catchy campaigns within the runup to the ten Could Karnataka meeting elections which the get together gained with a thumping majority, seems all set to be appointed advisor to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, a supply conscious of the event advised ThePrint.
Kanugolu had joined the Congress final 12 months.
The 41-year-old former head of the Affiliation of Good Minds (ABM) — the BJP’s marketing campaign organisation — and now chief of political consultancy agency Inclusive Minds, is claimed to have additionally helped Siddaramaiah with branding and speech inputs earlier than the Karnataka elections.
His anticipated appointment as advisor comes lower than two weeks after Siddaramaiah took oath as Karnataka CM on 20 Could.
“A proposal has been despatched for him [Kanugolu] to be made the CM’s advisor,” stated an aide of the chief minister, requesting anonymity. The particular person stated that Siddaramaiah had immediately requested for Kanugolu to be appointed on this place.
An official order formalising the appointment, together with a doable cupboard rank for the ballot strategist, has been initiated, based on two folks conscious of the developments. Whereas a purported copy of such an order is already doing the rounds of social media, it’s but to be shared official channels.
Results of the Karnataka meeting elections have been introduced on 13 Could and confirmed a transparent majority for the Congress — with the get together profitable 135 of 224 seats, defeating the then-incumbent Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP).
Whereas the victory was adopted by a battle for the CM’s chair between Siddaramaiah and Deputy CM D.Okay. Shivakumar, the get together excessive command was lastly capable of dealer an settlement between the 2, with Siddaramaiah taking oath as CM for the second time since 2013. Since then the Karnataka CM is claimed to have additionally secured cupboard berths for a lot of in his camp.
ThePrint reached Kanugolu over cellphone and WhatsApp message for touch upon his appointment, however acquired no response until the time of publication of this copy. ThePrint has additionally reached the chief minister’s workplace for official touch upon this, the copy will probably be up to date as soon as a response is acquired.
Additionally learn: From shepherd to Karnataka chief minister, once more — a have a look at Siddaramaiah’s political journey
From surveys to branding inputs
Kanugolu and Naresh Arora of Design Boxed, one other ballot administration agency, have been credited with a number of of the Congress’ catchy campaigns that set the ballot narrative in Karnataka within the runup to the ten Could meeting elections.
One such marketing campaign was ‘PayCM’ to spotlight and nook the earlier Basavaraj Bommai-led BJP authorities on corruption allegations. The 2 have been additionally credited with developing with the slogan “40 p.c sarkara” — believed to be an allusion to the “40% fee” row that erupted in April final 12 months following the demise of Belagavi-based contractor Santosh Patil. In a purported suicide observe, Patil had accused former state minister and BJP chief Okay.S. Eshwarappa of demanding 40 per cent fee for a authorities challenge.
Whereas Kanugolu and Arora are additionally stated to have drafted the Congress’s ballot guarantees within the run-up to the meeting elections, the previous was additionally concerned in holding pre-poll surveys for the Congress, sources advised ThePrint.
Kanugolu’s staff had carried out at the least 5 surveys earlier than the elections, to gauge assist for the Congress, the sources added.
“He additionally helped Siddaramaiah in branding, analysis, speech pointers and inputs on political intelligence,” stated the Siddaramaiah aide quoted above.
A former advisor at McKinsey, Kanugolu had earlier labored with fellow ballot strategist Prashant Kishor, as part of the Residents for Accountable Governance initiative.
He joined the Congress in 2022 and Inclusive Minds (previously Mindshare Analytics) now works solely for the Congress get together.
Kanugolu and his staff are additionally concerned in planning the Congress marketing campaign for the upcoming Madhya Pradesh meeting elections. The ballot strategist was additionally made a part of the get together’s job power for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, arrange by former Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
He was additionally made a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) forward of the get together plenary in Chhattisgarh earlier this 12 months.
(Edited by Poulomi Banerjee)
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