What’s next for Pierre Karl Peladeau?

I think most people would agree that Pierre Karl Peledau's fist pump proclaiming that he wants an independent Quebec was a turning point in the election campaign.

By putting the focus on sovereignty, the billionaire media mogul single-handily cost the Parti Quebecois a ton of support.

Ironically, however, that one move might have sparked a sequence of events which could very well end with PKP becoming the next leader of the PQ.

[ Related: Does Monday’s election result mean the sovereignty movement is dead in Quebec? ]

With Pauline Marois's resignation as party leader, on Monday evening, speculation has already begun about who will replace her.

Former PQ cabinet ministers Bernard Drainville and Jean-François Lisée are certainly potential candidates but all eyes are squarely on PKP.

Jean Dorion, a former Bloc Québécois MP, told CBC News that he believes PKP is angling for the leadership.

"I cannot imagine a man of the amplitude of Mr. Péladeau staying as a backbencher in an opposition party," Dorion said.

"Of course he’s aiming to become the new leader."

He certainly didn't leave a $1.3 million salary in the private sector to be a backbench MNA with a salary of $103,443.

[ Related: Pauline Marois resigns as PQ leader after crushing election defeat ]

For now, PKP is saying that it's "much too early" to consider his next steps; that his focus is on the National Assembly.

But if you watched him on Monday night, he was looking and sounding like a leader, at one point even congratulating Premier-Designate Philippe Couillard.

And despite his early misteps during the campaign, sources have told the Globe and Mail that PKP has a been a "good soldier" and popular with many sovereigntists.

PKP for PQ leader?

It's looking like a real possibility.

(Photo courtesy of the Canadian Press)

Are you a politics junkie?
Follow @politicalpoints on Twitter!