Many foresee her as the next prime minister. The BSP chief and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati is keeping her cards close to her chest.
Has not committed any poll deals with any party. But she will set terms to the Third Front if she gets a lion's share of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, Karat struck a deal with Maya, but it fell apart later.
No one can ignore Maya -- that is for sure.
Current tally in UP: BSP 19; SP: 35; Cong: 9; BJP: 10; RLD: 3
Poll factors: Muslim votebank, Mayawati factor, BJP's tie-up with Ajit Singh's Rashtriya Lok Dal, and Kalyan Singh's exit from the BJP.
Image: Mayawati's confidence is sky-high.