Prime Minister candidates galore this time

NEW DELHI: Prime Ministerial candidates are galore this time, despite the Lok Sabha elections still at least a year away.

Unlike any time in the past in independent India, there have been plethora of leaders being projected for the top executive job in the country, directly or indirectly.

The BJP has officially named the Leader of the Opposition L K Advani their man for the job and has received support from its allies in the opposition alliance.

It is another story that the 'iron man' has landed in controversies while promoting his autobiography 'My country, My life'.

Sharad Pawar-led NCP has plumped for Manmohan Singh by hailing the democratic credentials of the Prime Minister, but the idea has found the Congress virtually going on the silent mode.

Congress leaders have been time and again projecting 37-year old Rahul Gandhi, heir-apparent of the Gandhi-Nehru family who was made an AICC general secretary some months back, as the future leader of the party and a potential Prime Minister.

Rahul is also being portrayed by the Congress as its 'Dhoni'. The Indian cricketer had led the winning team in the 20-20 tournament.

BSP, buoyed by its victory in the Uttar Pradesh elections last year, is making no bones about projecting its leader Mayawati the next Prime Ministerial candidate.

The Third Front, despite failing to get its act together so far, is giving indications that its chairman Mulayam Singh Yadav is no pushover.