Even as the JD(S) and the Congress have come together to stake claim to form government in Karnataka, all eyes are on Governor Vajubhai Vala, considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Before he was appointed as Karnataka governor by the Narendra Modi government, 80-year-old Vala was an eight-time MLA in Gujarat and has had the distinction of presenting the state budget for a record 18 times.
In 2001, when political fortunes of the then chief minister Keshubhai Patel dwindled, and the BJP Central leadership replace him with Modi, Vala vacated his Rajkot (West) seat, and Modi won the byelection with a thumping majority.
Having remained behind the bars for 11 months during Emergency, Vala's association with the saffron party dates back to his RSS days, and later with the Jan Sangh.
Vala, along with other prominent leaders like Kashiram Rana, Pravin Maniar and Keshubhai Patel,
played a major role in laying the foundation of the saffron party in Gujarat.
The jovial Vala is a media friendly person. He was considered to be a leader who could pull a huge crowd whenever mega rallies were conducted.
According to party insiders, Vala not only knows the party workers, but also knows names of their family members.
At a time when the BJP has emerged as the single largest party in Karnataka, Vala is all set to play an important role. It would all depend on whether he invites the single largest party to form the government, or looks at the numbers of the JD (S) and Congress combine.
Political analysts feel that appointing Vala as Karnataka governor was Modi's foresightedness as the state was to face election in 2018. The appointment of former Gujarat chief minister Anandiben Patel as Madhya Pradesh governor is considered another masterstroke by the prime minister.