Sunil Kanugolu, an Indian political strategist and tactician, accepted the offer to oversee election campaigns for the Indian National Congress party in April 2022. |
In May 2022, Sonia Gandhi announced his membership in Congress’ 2024 Lok Sabha polls task force. |
Kanugolu was born in Bellary, Karnataka, raised in Chennai, Tamil Nadu by his Kannadiga father and Telugu mother. |
He relocated from New York to Chennai in 2009 and previously worked at McKinsey & Company. |
His brother, Sushil Kanugolu, founded the modern meat retail company Fipola in 2016. |
Reports indicate Kanugolu worked closely with Narendra Modi in 2010 and Prashant Kishor for Modi's successful 2014 Lok Sabha campaign. |
Following BJP's 2014 election win, he aided BJP victories in various states like UP, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, and Karnataka. |
Before parting ways in 2018, he founded the Association of Brilliant Minds (ABMs) for the BJP in 2016. |
During the 2017 Jallikattu protests, he supported DMK and helped M. K. Stalin enhance his political standing. |
He collaborated with Amit Shah when Shah was BJP president between 2014 and 2018. |
Kanugolu later assisted AIADMK in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. |
He has directorship in SR Independent Fisheries Pvt Ltd, SR Naturo Foods Pvt Ltd, and Brainstorm Innovation and Research Pvt Ltd. |
During the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election, he briefly worked for Shiromani Akali Dal. |
In May 2022, he joined Congress after Prashant Kishor turned down the offer and was tasked with election strategies. |
Sunil masterminded Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra from September 2022 to January 2023. |
He avoids social media and mainstream media, preferring to work behind the scenes. |
Media mistakenly attributed pictures of his brother to him, and in May 2023, the error was rectified on social media. |
Kanugolu's strategic campaigning led Congress to a significant victory in the 2023 Karnataka legislative assembly election. |
On 31 May 2023, he was appointed Chief Advisor to Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah with a cabinet minister rank. |