Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at HT Leadership summit
Mulayam Singh Yadav as Prime Minister, Rahul Gandhi as his deputy - the formula was born today as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav tackled questions at the HT Leadership Summit.
A grinning Rahul Gandhi in the audience shifted in his seat and refused to comment.
During a session moderated by NDTV's Barkha Dutt, Akhilesh Yadav was responding to a question on whether his Samajwadi Party would be open to an alliance with the Congress for the next national election.
"If Mulayam Singhji is Prime Minister and Rahul Gandhi is Deputy Prime Minister, I will say yes to the alliance right now," said the 45-year-old, smiling. He repeated the answer when asked about the polls in Uttar Pradesh due in 2017.
Prodded for a response, Rahul Gandhi declined.
The BJP has said 'no vacancy'. "There will be no vacancy in the PM's post for 15-20 years," Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told reporters.
In the summit, Akhilesh Yadav had also said his party could never partner with the BJP and described the Congress vice president as an "old friend".
"He is sitting here, you can ask him. He is a very good friend of mine," said India's youngest Chief Minister.
Can this personal friendship extend to a political friendship, like in the past, he was asked.
"Why are you asking me? Because I am a Samajwadi (socialist) and you say that I get scolded by my father (Mulayam Singh). His dreams should also come true...If he becomes prime minister, then I am open to an alliance," he said.
Mr Yadav has presented an interesting possibility days after the victory of the Nitish Kumar-led grand alliance in the Bihar election. The verdict is being seen by opposition parties as a turning point in their fight against the ruling BJP.
There is speculation that a similar template could be used in polls in Uttar Pradesh, ruled by the Samajwadi Party since 2012.
Mulayam Singh Yadav, who set up the grand alliance with Nitish Kumar, Lalu Yadav and the Congress, walked out months before the election, upset over seat allocation.
Akhilesh Yadav dodged a question on whether an alliance with arch rival BSP of Mayawati, like the one in Bihar between former enemies Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav, was possible in Uttar Pradesh.
"Her (Mayawati) wish is that stone elephants come up. So how is that possible? I have already told you my formula," he said.