Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Tatkare Dismisses Prashant Kishor-Sunetra Pawar Meet As Courtesy Call
A big political party in India called the NCP held a meeting with a famous election helper named Prashant Kishor.
Prashant Kishor helps politicians win elections.
The head of the party, Sunetra Pawar, met with him.
Some people thought this meant he would join the party as a helper.
But a senior party leader named Sunil Tatkare said the meeting was just a polite visit.
He said the party does not need outside election helpers.
He said the party's own workers know the people well because they talk to them directly.
He also said the party remains part of a bigger alliance called the NDA.
For now, Prashant Kishor has not been given any job in the party.
NCP Maharashtra state president Sunil Tatkare downplayed Prashant Kishor's meeting with party president Sunetra Pawar as a courtesy call.
Tatkare insisted the NCP does not need political strategists and relies on grassroots politics.
He clarified there has been no decision to appoint Prashant Kishor as an adviser to the party.
Reports had suggested that issues related to Tatkare's functioning within the party were raised during the meeting.
Tatkare reiterated that the NCP remains part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
- Who
- NCP Maharashtra state president Sunil Tatkare, commenting on a meeting between election strategist and Bihar MP Prashant Kishor and NCP president Sunetra Pawar.
- What
- Tatkare downplayed the meeting as a courtesy call, said the NCP does not need political strategists, and confirmed no decision has been made to appoint Kishor as an adviser.
- When
- Friday, following Kishor's recent electoral success in Bihar.
- Where
- Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Why
- To clarify that the meeting should not be interpreted as Kishor's appointment as the party's strategist amid media speculation.
Signals of Kishor Joining NCP
A Courteous Call Only
Prashant Kishor's Role in NCP
Signals of Kishor Joining NCP
Reports suggest Kishor met party president Sunetra Pawar after his Bihar electoral success and that issues related to Sunil Tatkare's functioning were discussed, hinting at a possible strategic role.
A Courteous Call Only
Sunil Tatkare insists it was a formal courtesy call, that no decision has been made to appoint Kishor as an adviser, and that the party does not need political strategists.
Strategists and Surveys vs. Groundwork
Signals of Kishor Joining NCP
Election surveys are not inherently wrong and professional advice is always welcome, a point Tatkare himself conceded.
A Courteous Call Only
Experienced ground-level politicians and the party's organisational network provide a more accurate understanding of the public mood than external strategists and surveys.
- Person commenting
- Sunil Tatkare, NCP Maharashtra state president
- Meeting attendees
- Prashant Kishor and NCP president Sunetra Pawar
- Kishor's roles
- Election strategist and Bihar MP
- Tatkare's stance
- Meeting was a courtesy call; no adviser appointment decided
- Party position
- NCP remains part of the BJP-led NDA
- Context
- Meeting followed Kishor's recent electoral success in Bihar; article references the late leader Ajit Pawar
- Tatkare's experience
- Has travelled across Maharashtra eight times and never relied on surveys or strategists