Sunil Kanugolu, a poll strategist renowned for his expertise in the field, has once again proven his extraordinary ability by orchestrating the Congress’ impressive turnaround in Telangana. This achievement comes on the heels of his pivotal role in the party’s resurgence to power in Karnataka. Working in conjunction with Prashant Kishor’s I-PAC, Kanugolu played a significant part in shaping the Congress’ triumph in Karnataka and was subsequently granted a Cabinet rank in the Siddaramaiah government.
In the recent Telangana elections, Kanugolu collaborated with PCC chief A Revanth Reddy to devise a formidable strategy aimed at toppling the incumbent government led by K Chandrashekhar Rao. The Congress was poised for victory in Telangana, while simultaneously grappling with significant losses in the Hindi heartland states of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Rajasthan.
Kanugolu also ventured into Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh under the directive of the party’s central leadership. However, he reportedly encountered resistance from regional leaders Ashok Gehlot and Kamal Nath, who were not in sync with his strategies. Despite this, Kanugolu’s accomplishments in Karnataka and Telangana are widely attributed to the autonomy he and his team were granted, allowing them to operate without constraints.
Hailing from Karnataka, the accomplished strategist is credited with being the mastermind behind the Congress’ narrative in the state, particularly through the impactful ‘PayCM’ campaign against the BJP. Similarly, in the lead-up to the polls in Telangana, he spotlighted the alleged corruption within the K Chandrashekhar Rao administration, a tactic that resonated strongly with the electorate.
Of note, Kanugolu has also been involved in various BJP poll campaigns, including their success in Karnataka where the party secured 104 seats. He also contributed to Narendra Modi’s 2014 campaign, as well as the BJP’s political endeavors in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat. Notably, Kanugolu’s expertise extended to supporting the AIADMK against the DMK, which led to a significant victory in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections.
Having joined the Congress in the past year, Kanugolu’s involvement in steering Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’ from Kanyakumari to Kashmir further solidified his position as a pivotal figure within the party. With his successful track record in Karnataka and Telangana, it is anticipated that Kanugolu will be entrusted with even greater responsibilities by the Congress in the lead-up to the Lok Sabha polls.
I have over 10 years of experience in the cryptocurrency industry and I have been on the list of the top authors on LinkedIn for the past 5 years.