Mamata’s plan for Priyanka Gandhi

Amid suggestions at the Indian National Developmental, Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) meeting here on Tuesday that the bloc finalize its seat-sharing by December 31, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee proposed Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge as the prime ministerial face of the alliance.

“He can be India’s first Dalit Prime Minister,” Ms. Banerjee was quoted as saying by a senior Opposition leader.

When Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Admi Party (AAP) convener Arvind Kejriwal endorsed the Congress chief’s name as the first Dalit prime ministerial choice, Mr. Kharge intervened to assert that he had never used his Dalit identity.

At a press conference to convey the decisions of the INDIA bloc, Mr. Kharge said the decision on prime ministerial candidate would be taken after the election.

“First, we have to win and get a majority, then MPs will decide democratically,” Mr. Kharge told reporters when asked if he could be the Opposition’s PM face.

Sources said that Ms. Banerjee also suggested the name of Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest from Varanasi against Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, there was no decision on any of these proposals.