According to sources YSRCP Chief Jagan Mohan Reddy has made no bones about this, having in the run-up to the April 11 elections in Andhra told, "When the numbers come, he thinks there will be a hung Parliament. What he is hoping for is also a hung Parliament. Only then national parties will learn not to mock democracy."
Meanwhile Jagan’s statement is echoed by several leaders from across the country, who believes the time has come for regional politics to be given their due. Furthermore whether it is Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal, K Chandrasekhar Rao in Telangana, or Akhilesh Yadav in Uttar Pradesh, the sentiment among these regional heavyweights is that 2019 will bring about a change of government, a change in coalition politics, where regional parties will together emerge king, and not merely play kingmaker.
Reportedly Mamata, KCR, Mayawati among others may nurse Prime Ministerial ambitions, but does the math add up for any one of these regional leaders to really have a shot at the PM’s chair? Moreover like Stalin, former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda has backed Rahul Gandhi for PM. Apparently the regional leaders will be able to cobble together the numbers to stake claim to form the next government will be known on May 23, but the real challenge will then be in ensuring that several heads vying for the top spot remain united.
