Will oppositions project Mamata or Mayabati as prime ministerial face?

With the time for next general election approaching in the country, the opposition political parties currently are on a mission to arrive at a consensus for projecting a PM face to counter BJP.

Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda has recently said that he was not averse to projecting TMC Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee as the Opposition's prime ministerial face for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

Talking to the media, the former PM noted that while the formation of a third front was still in the "early stage", Banerjee is "trying her best" to bring all the non-BJP parties together.

Banerjee is pursuing the task of the formation of a federal front seriously after the draft NRC in Assam that excluded 40 lakh people from the list in the eastern State, said Deve Gowda.

His remarks came amid reports that the Congress and other opposition parties favour leaving the issue of a prime ministerial candidate for the post-election phase to ensure opposition unity.

The remark also comes days after top Congress sources indicated that the party will not mind a nominee for the top post from any Opposition alliance which does not have the backing of BJP and RSS.

Indicating he is not opposed to a woman Prime Minister, Deve Gowda said he had piloted the women's reservation bill in Parliament way back in 1996.

"It is because there is a sense of fear in the country. There is a suffocating atmosphere for minorities in States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Gujarat. A formidable front is necessary to take on BJP in 2019," he added.

Congress also wants a formidable opposition force to counter the BJP. Congress is on catch 22 situation over the opposition's common face for PM. Mamata Banerjee is on the top list to be the next Prime Minister. Though Mayawati is also in the list.

The Congress's willingness to back Mamata, Mayawati or indeed any other candidate for prime minister as long as they are not part of a BJP arrangement.

Mamata Banerjee last week pitched herself as the opposition leader who is going to take on BJP head-on in Bengal and elsewhere when she announced a mega rally for January next year where she will invite all other India political leaders.