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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has welcomed Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray's remark that senior party leader Sushma Swaraj will be a "deserving" and "great choice" PM's post. "We welcome what Balasaheb has said. BJP has the blessings of God. We have self-dependent leaders who can make for an able prime minister," said BJP leader Balbir Punj. "Our existence is not dependent on a single family, and, therefore, different people see different leaders in our party who can lead the country in these difficult times," he added. Thackeray's comments were part of an interview that appeared today in his party mouthpiece, Saamna. Responding to who would be the ideal choice for the prime minister's job from the BJP, Thackeray said, "At present, there is only one person who is intelligent, brilliant - Sushma Swaraj." Thackeray further said: "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." Thackeray's comments come in the wake of his recent meeting with Swaraj as part of her party's campaign against the Centre over the coal block allocation controversy.

Thackeray says Sushma deserves to be PM; BJP happy