Six regional parties could decide next PM: Pawar

Observing that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi may have peaked out well before the 2014 polls, NCP chief and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar Saturday said six regional leaders will hold the key to government formation next year and only a person acceptable to a majority of them would become the next Prime Minister. Speaking to this newspaper, Pawar identified the Trinamool Congress, Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Biju Janata Dal, Janata Dal (United) and the AIADMK as the kingmakers in 2014 and said neither the Congress nor the BJP can reach the "magic figure" without them. "In coalition politics, the PM candidate should be such, who has acceptability among regional parties. And here, my view is that the important factors post-Lok Sabha elections will be Mamata, Naveen, Mulayam Singh, Mayawati, Nitish and Jayalalithaa," Pawar said. "They will get some definite numbers post election. On their own, they may not be able to reach that magic figure, but without their support nobody will be able to reach that magic figure. Now, think who will support whom," Pawar said, refusing to elaborate. He was also sceptical about Modi's political fortunes at the Centre, and at the same time, steered clear of endorsing Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi as the UPA's PM nominee.