Boris Johnson

A runoff between the two could have proved divisive for the Conservative Party because many of Johnson's supporters blame Sunak's resignation in July for sparking the downfall of his government.

The investment banker-turned politician is the youngest British prime minister in 210 years.

While the October timeline was set by former prime minister Boris Johnson during his India visit in April, Sunak is on the record expressing his commitment to an FTA with India while Chancellor of the Exchequer at No. 11 Downing Street.

In the end, all of Boris Johnson's bluster couldn't hide the facts: He didn't have the votes to win the Conservative Party leadership contest and stage a political comeback just weeks after being forced out as prime minister.

Diwali 2022: For Indians on Twitter, the feats by Rishi Sunak and Virat Kohli have brightened their festival celebrations

Rishi Sunak: Calls for a general election--which had erupted during Liz Truss's tenure--is only growing stronger now with several Britons claiming Rishi Sunak has no mandate without getting a single vote from the public in his favour.

In her first public address after resigning as the leader of the Conservative Party, Liz Truss said, ""The triumph of light over darkness is at the heart of Diwali. We can all take inspiration from that powerful message."

The Indian-origin former home secretary, who resigned from the Cabinet when Liz Truss was elected the Prime Minister last month, said the Tories must put political differences aside to give Sunak the best chance of succeeding as the new leader.

In a brief statement on Twitter late Sunday -- shortly after Johnson said he wouldn’t stand for fear of dividing the Conservative Party -- Sunak vowed to lead with “integrity, professionalism and accountability” if he won the race for No. 10 Downing Street.

With the former prime minister stepping aside on Sunday night saying it was simply not the right time for his comeback, the prospect of a Diwali victory for Sunak cannot be ruled out.

The 55-year-old former leader claimed he had crossed the 100-MPs threshold but decided not to go forward in the interest of Tory party's unity.

Boris Johnson and his former finance minister Rishi Sunak are leading the contenders to be the next prime minister following Liz Truss' resignation after just six weeks in office.

Liz Truss was only the fourth British leader to win the job through a particularly American practice newly common in her country: a party primary.

"Eighty five per cent of England are white English people and they want a Prime Minister who reflects that. I can’t just go to India and be the Prime Minister there can I?"

Johnson was prime minister from 2019 to 2022 until he was forced to resign over a string of scandals. One-time backers are now urging him to stay out of the race to replace his successor Liz Truss, who only lasted six weeks in office.

The prospect of the pair running on a joint ticket represents yet another unimaginable twist in what’s been a chaotic year in UK politics

Neither Rishi Sunak nor Boris Johnson has officially declared their intention to contest the leadership election, with Leader of the Commons Penny Mordaunt the only candidate to formally announce her candidacy so far.

The Indian-origin MP, who had remained conspicuously silent over her choice of Conservative Party leader in the last leadership contest between Truss and Rishi Sunak, said Johnson had the public mandate from the 2019 general election to deliver for the Tories.

The potential candidates to replace Prime Minister Liz Truss, who dramatically quit on Thursday after only six weeks in power, were embarking on a frantic weekend of lobbying to secure enough nominations to enter the leadership contest before Monday's deadline.

Liz Truss had the shortest tenure ever for a British PM, sparking memes and jokes on social media.