New Delhi/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who declared yesterday that the INDIA bloc will decide its Prime Ministerial candidate after the Lok Sabha election, took a 180-degree turn Tuesday by proposing Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge's name for the position.

According to reports, Banerjee proposed Kharge's name during the ongoing meeting of the Opposition INDIA bloc.

Her proposal got widespread approval given Kharge is a prominent Dalit face in the Opposition. Twelve of the participating parties applauded the plan, reports said.

Even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, known to have a bitter relationship with the Congress, seconded the idea. "This is a chance to have the country's first Dalit Prime Minister," NDTV sources quoted him as saying.

Kharge, however, refused to be the face. He said he only wants to work for the downtrodden.

"We have to win first and think what to do to win. What is the point of discussing PM before having MPs? We will try to get a majority together," Kharge later told reporters when asked about the matter.

While the wide approval of Kharge is seen as an indication of his stature among the Opposition parties, it also means a snub to Rahul Gandhi, over whose candidature for the top post, the opposition has always been divided. 

Talking to reporters after the meeting, Kharge said the crucial issue of seat sharing will be handled at the state level.

"If there is any issue, it will be taken up at the Central level," he said.

Trinamool Congress and several other parties have decided on Dec 31 as the deadline for seat-sharing talks.

On Tuesday, 28 parties came together for the mega meet of the INDIA bloc, which is one of the many in the days to come.

Kharge said they would hold multiple meets across various cities. "Unless we do that we cannot raise people's awareness," Kharge said.