Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Thursday said NCP chief Sharad Pawar has all the qualities to lead the country.
Mr Raut, whose party now shares power with the NCP and Congress in Maharashtra, was speaking to reporters in Mumbai.
Mr Pawar has vast experience, knowledge of the issues before the country and knows "the pulse of the people", the Sena Rajya Sabha MP said.
"He has all the capabilities to lead the nation," he added.
"The Shiv Sena extends good wishes to him," Mr Raut said, referring to Mr Pawar's 80th birthday on December 12.
Asked about speculation by a section of media that Pawar may replace Congress president Sonia Gandhi as chairperson of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Mr Raut said, "Politics is unpredictable. You never know what will happen next."
Denied Ticket, E Shinde's MLA Repents Leaving Uddhav Thackeray, Goes Missing "People Create Dispute...": Maharashtra Congress Chief On Ally Rift Buzz "Will Rise From Ashes": Sanjay Raut On Team Thackeray Losing Party Name Walmart Employee's Big Claim After Indian-Origin Teen Found Dead In Oven Who Was Gursimran Kaur, Indian Teen Found Dead In Walmart Oven Businessman's Rs 1 Crore Rolex Gift To Contractor For Building His "Fortress" North Korea Says It Test-Fired Latest ICBM Hwasong-19 On Thursday Ex-Armyman Opens Fire At Man Over Parking Dispute In Pune; Arrested US Elections: 60 Million Cast Early Votes In Kamala Harris-Trump Tight Race Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.