Sushma Swaraj is Bal Thackeray's only choice for PM from BJP

Mumbai, Sep 9:

supremo

has said that Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha

is the only leader in the ally

who would make a "deserving" Prime Minister.

In part three of his marathon interview, published by Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' today, Thackeray said, "At present there is only one person who is intelligent, brilliant - Sushma Swaraj."

He was responding to the question who in BJP could become the next Prime Minister. "I have said this many times... She would be a great choice for PM's post. She is a deserving, intelligent woman. She would deliver a great performance," the Shiv Sena patriarch added.

Thackeray also expressed dismay over senior BJP leader L K Advani's recent prediction that the next government may be formed by a non-NDA, non-UPA front.

"I find it difficult to say anything beyond (what he said). What should one expect from these people ? Why did he say so?" Thackeray said.

To a question whether the alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena was "strong", Thackeray said, "Now (I) can't use the word strong. Thinking has changed, there are personal animosities, animosities between the parties. NDA of the past had a leader like Vajpayee, now there is no such leadership. But I am talking about NDA, not BJP."

PTI