In a major snub for the Congress party and its president Rahul Gandhi, senior party leader Natwar Singh has come out in support for BSP chief Mayawati for the face of Prime Minister ahead of the upcoming crucial general elections. Former Minister of External Affairs Natwar Singh, while addressing reporters on Monday, said that Mahagathbandhan is rising strongly to be a winner for the 2019 polls for former U.P CM Mayawati is a tough contender for the post of Prime Minister, brushing off the chances of his party chief Rahul Gandhi.

"If there will be a gathbandhan, then I don't think that Rahul Gandhi will be the Prime Minister. This has been announced by everyone, except Stalin ji. Others did not say this. Then who will lead the group, Mayawati and Akhilesh Yadav ji coming together changes a lot of things. It is not just that my son (Jagat Singh) is contesting from BSP, but Mayawati has a better chance of winning this time," said senior Congress leader Natwar Singh.

Speaking about the recent mega Opposition rally led by West Bengal CM and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, he said, "Today it appears that this Mahagathbandhan will go strong. People might have been mocking earlier, saying there are so many people, but Mamata ji has proved that we can come together."

His son Jagat Singh is contesting the state assembly bypolls on BSP ticket.

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Earlier, posters declaring Mayawati as India's to-be Prime Minister surfaced on social media on the occasion of her birthday on January 15. While sending best wishes to their party chief on her birthday, BSP leaders also circulated posters declaring Mayawati to be the next Prime Minister of the country.

However, when Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav, with whom Mayawati's BSP has recently come in alliance for the 2019 polls, was asked about whether Mayawati would be the PM-face of the newly-formed Gathbandhan, he gave a cryptic but positive response:

"You know who is my choice. Uttar Pradesh has given prime ministers in the past and trend will be repeated again".

READ: On Mayawati's Birthday, BSP Declares Her 'India's To-be Prime Minister', Posters Surface