MUMBAI: NCP president Sharad Pawar said on Saturday that West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee , her Andhra Pradesh counterpart Chandrababu Naidu and former Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati would be top contenders for the prime minister’s post if the Modi-led NDA fails to secure a clear majority.“Narendra Modi was chief minister of Gujarat before taking over as the PM. In my opinion, since the possibility of the NDA securing a clear majority is remote, Banerjee, Naidu and Mayawati are better options for the PM’s post,” Pawar told TOI.Pawar denied reports put out by a TV channel that he had said, in an interview, that the three regional satraps were better PM candidates than Congress president Rahul Gandhi . He told TOI that Rahul had himself made it clear on several occasions that he was not in the race for the PM’s post. “So any debate on that (point) has no relevance,” Pawar said.A week ago, when Naidu and Pawar were in Mumbai, Naidu had said he was not eyeing the PM’s post and that the primary goal of his party, TDP, was to defeat the BJP in the Lok Sabha polls.Earlier during the poll campaign, Pawar had claimed in an interview to TOI that the BJP’s tally in the Lok Sabha would be drastically reduced “owing to its government’s failure on all fronts.” “I feel that the BJP’s tally will go down by at least 100 seats and that the NDA may not be able to secure a clear majority. We will have to work on new options for the prime minister’s post,” Pawar had said.However, he had said he was not in the running for the top post. “The NCP is contesting only 22 seats. Even if we win all 22, we would not even come close to the figure required for formation of the government. It would be irrational to even think about becoming PM,” Pawar had stated.A senior Congress leader said that while there was no Mahagathbandhan, in the event the NDA fails to secure a majority, Pawar would play a crucial role in organising anti-NDA parties.“Pawar could mobilise the support of all anti-BJP parties to ensure Modi is kept out of power. We will not be surprised then if the Shiv Sena too supports his proposal,” the Congress leader said.