April 29, 2014 7:58 p.m. ET
Backing from Jayaram Jayalalithaa, portrayed in a cutout above in Tamil Nadu, could make or break any coalition government in India. Agence France-Presse/Getty Images
MADURAI, India—When one of India's larger-than-life politicians, Jayaram Jayalalithaa, arrived in this southern city recently, 30 or so of her most fervent followers greeted her by prostrating themselves in the dirt as her helicopter landed.
Ms. Jayalalithaa, a former movie star, leads one of India's most popular regional political parties. She is one of three regional power brokers,—all of whom are women—who will likely play a central role shaping India's next government when national elections end in mid-May.
The reason: Neither major national party—the front-runner Bharatiya Janata Party nor the Congress party—is expected to win a parliamentary majority.
Support from regional figures like Ms. Jayalalithaa could make or break any coalition government.
The other two women are Mamata Banerjee from West Bengal and Kumari Mayawati of Uttar Pradesh. Together, the three dominate a chunk of India that is home to nearly 30% of India's 543 parliamentary seats. It will be "hard to form the next government without at least one or two of these women" joining in, says Pradip Kumar Datta, who teaches political science at Delhi University.
All three expect big things in return for political support. Ms. Jayalalithaa, perhaps, has the highest aspirations: She has said she would like to become prime minister. In the past, from her base here in the state of Tamil Nadu, she has formed alliances with both major parties.
As she addressed thousands of supporters here recently, the crowd broke out in a chant, "From CM to PM!" calling for Ms. Jayalalithaa, the state's chief minister, to become prime minister.
She may be an outside shot for prime minister in a race led by the BJP and its top candidate, Narendra Modi, but she is making clear her ambition for a larger role in national politics.
Her party's manifesto promises to extend some policies in Tamil Nadu to all of India including the waiving interest payments on crop loans for farmers who repay on time and a tax exemption on income up to 500,000 rupees ($8,200).
During this election, Ms. Jayalalithaa,—known as "Amma," or "mother," to supporters,—built up her campaign by promising an array of freebies including blenders, goats and even gold necklaces in an appeal to women voters.
She is credited for reforms in Tamil Nadu, including health facilities targeting adolescent girls and centralized distribution of drugs and medical supplies. A major achievement was the setting up of canteens to help the poor get nutritious food at subsidized prices.
Speaking at Madurai she promised that her party "will have a larger say in Delhi this election"—a reference to her expectation that the national parties will need her support.
While Ms. Jayalalithaa is the political queen of the south, Ms. Banerjee is the focus of attention in West Bengal, where she is chief minister.
To supporters, who call her "Didi" or "Big Sister," Ms. Banerjee, 59, is a hero who made history in 2011 when her party, All India Trinamool Congress, in alliance with the Congress party, ended more than three decades of communist rule in her state.
She, too, has worked in the past with both the BJP and Congress. In 2012, she exited the Congress-led national government after opposing a decision to allow foreign investment in retail markets.
In the current election, she has argued that West Bengal should receive more financial assistance.
Her state carries a heavy debt load dating from the communist era.
"She will attempt to secure a legitimate deal for her state," said party leader Gautam Deb. On a national level, he added, "Our party will lead the way for the next government to enter office."
In the state of Uttar Pradesh, Ms. Mayawati—built a career championing the cause of Dalits, the group traditionally at the bottom of the Hindu caste system. She—is the third power player in the Indian election.
Ms. Mayawati's relations with the BJP are chilly: She has criticized the party and Mr. Modi, for dividing Hindus and Muslims, India's two main religious groups.
She has also recently assailed the Congress party for poor governance.
In the current election, she has reached beyond her traditional Dalit and Muslim vote base, building a coalition with Brahmins, the upper-caste Hindus.
At a recent rally in Uttar Pradesh's Bijnor district, Ms. Mayawati declared, "No party will be in a position to form the government" without the district's support. "Our party will spring a surprise this time," she said.
She, too, has expressed a desire to be prime minister. A U.S. diplomatic cable from late 2008 and made public in 2011 talked about her ambitions.
"Mayawati is obsessed with becoming prime minister. With all signs pointing to another coalition government in Delhi, Mayawati could be a power broker and perhaps even a king (or queen) maker," the cable said.
Write to Vibhuti Agarwal at vibhuti.agarwal@wsj.com
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