possibilitics

The PMK chose to be in the AIADMK-BJP camp. The party has been in UPA and NDA and its clout among Vanniyars in north Tamil Nadu makes it a valuable partner. The party is seen as ideologically neutral and can change preferences if the NDA fails to make it

The Bihar CM ditched Lalu Prasad and patched up with BJP in a spectacular switch in mid-2017. But after that his renewed ties with BJP have been uneven, despite the parties sealing a seat pact for LS polls. He might see himself as a “dark horse” in case BJP falls well short of a majority

He is firmly in the NDA camp, having wrangled extra seats. He is unlikely to switch unless BJP is knocked out of the race. He has been part of United Front before and a realignment cannot be ruled out if he is needed by the opposition numbers game though this is not his first option

After targeting the Modi government and BJP despite being a ruling partner at the Centre and in Maharashtra, he has now made a U-turn and promised to show how thick an ally he can be. Worry about Sena’s prospects without BJP in LS and, more crucially for him, state polls (due later this year) means Uddhav has no option but to stick to his promise

Without Jayalalithaa, AIADMK is adrift lacking a leader. Will hope that allying with BJP would counter anti-incumbency and give him a stake at the Centre. Alliance with PMK will boost its vote. Will not be part of UPA or federal front as long as sworn rival DMK is a part of the alliance

BJP’s oldest ally is still struggling to quell the anger of its core voter base — the Sikhs — that drove it out of power in 2017. The three-day penance in December for ‘inadvertent mistakes’ did not help much. Sukhbir Singh Badal faced rebellion and dissidents formed SAD Taksali. But SAD remains a firm NDA ally

Apna Dal is bargaining hard, sensing that the tough challenge posed by the SP-BSP combine will enable the Kurmi party wrest a seat or two more from BJP. Ambitious and confident, Patel and husband Ashish Singh are in touch with Congress too while BJP has reached out to her estranged mother Krishna Patel

The new leader is firmly in command and has moved to seal alliance with Congress. He has won the family power struggle and has taken a strong anti-BJP line, opposing the new 10% quota. DMK has been part of NDA before but will prefer a federal front/Cong regime

A declining force, the Tamil leader has patched up with DMK. Ironically, he had broken with Karunanidhi over nepotism and now finds himself in Stalin’s company. He is unlikely to switch to the Modi camp despite having been part of NDA earlier

The National Conference is strongly aligned against BJP with the saffron party pushing a hard line in Jammu and Kashmir. Can be part of a federal front/Cong-led govt. NC’s primary goal is to get the better of rival PDP in the valley and ensure it is frontrunner in the J&K assembly polls

Being in jail seriously handicaps this intrepid politician. He cannot be part of NDA and will work for a Cong-led government with federal front as second choice. He needs to have clout at the Centre to help address cases filed against him and his family by CBI and enforcement directorate

The “helpless” CM of Karnataka has had the better of ally Congress and BJP. He has driven a hard seat-sharing bargain with Congress to cement his position, which could be threatened by a BJP win. If a Cong-led alliance cannot form govt, he’s likely to go with a federal front

The Maratha warhorse has announced he will not contest the LS polls. While he partners Congress in Maharashtra, he may see a larger role on the national stage if Congress slips

Assiduously kept away from federal front and UPA meetings despite being anti-BJP. She is concentrating on UP where she hopes an alliance with SP will reverse BSP’s sinking fortunes. After a wipe-out in 2014 LS election and mere 19 seats in 2017 assembly, this is make or break. Has partnered BJP before

Nothing stirs the Trinamool leader more than the prospect of a street fight. She is looking to set the pace at the national level by promoting a federal front of regional parties while taking on a resurgent BJP at home. She is a prospective PM, looking to deny Congress leadership if possible

Like Mayawati, hopes to get back in the game in UP with the SP-BSP alliance. He will prefer a federal front arrangement and hope that numbers will give him a strong say at the Centre. Being part of a Cong-led government is a difficult choice as his main aim is to regain lost glory in UP

The Jat leader is with the SP-BSP and is ranged against BJP which has wooed his community assiduously. Though not strongly ideological, he will not find it easy to ally with BJP. Was part of UPA II cabinet and can be part of a Congress-led government though his preference will be a federal front

His alliance with BJP broke amid bitter recriminations. His attempt at a grand alliance in Telangana by befriending Congress failed. He is now battling to save home turf in AP where LS and assembly polls are simultaneous. He prefers federal front, can join UPA. BJP seems ruled out

AGP’s alliance with BJP worked well for the regional party till it broke over the citizenship bill. Since BJP remains committed to the bill, he cannot return and BJP is not too warm either. AGP will prefer a federal front regime given its anti-outsider stance that pits it against Congress