Rishi Sunak is close to reaching the 100 MP nominations needed to enter the race to be the next Conservative leader and prime minister in the United Kingdom after resign of Prime Minister Liz Truss.
Sunak has 93 endorsements from Tory MPs so far, though a campaign source said he had already reached 100, reports BBC.
Boris Johnson, second with 44 backers, is poised to enter the contest to succeed Liz Truss and is flying back from a Caribbean holiday.
Penny Mordaunt was the first to declare, counting 21 supporters so far.
Trade Minister Sir James Duddridge, who is backing Boris Johnson, told BBC News: "He is coming home and is up for it."
Neither Sunak nor Johnson have officially launched their campaigns, but this has not stopped backers declaring their support.
Earlier on Thursday, UK Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned following a failed tax-cutting budget that rocked financial markets and which led to a revolt within her own Conservative Party.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
