The BJP's national leadership has already focused on its candidate for the post of vice president of the country. It now appears almost certain that it would be swansong for M Venkaiah Naidu, the incumbent vice-president. He was bypassed and tribal woman Draupadi Murmu was selected as the presidential candidate of the NDA.
As for the vice-president's post too, Venkaiah Naidu may not get another term. He may have to make way for another candidate, who is both young and more active. Highly placed sources say that the BJP might either go in for a person from the minorities community for the post of vice-president.
Sources say that the BJP may opt for Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is a product of the ABVP and has stood by the BJP during the Ayodhya movement. He later joined the BJP and became a union minister. But, this time around, he was dropped from the ministry and was not even renominated to the Rajya Sabha. Sources say that the BJP has done this with a purpose. It wants to make him the vice president.
The bJP feels that Naqvi, a shia, would be useful in improving the relations with Iran, which is likely to emerge as a lynchpin in India's fuel strategies. Also, he would be useful in improving India's relations with 57 Muslim countries across the world. The vice-president would also be the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.
As for the vice-president's post too, Venkaiah Naidu may not get another term. He may have to make way for another candidate, who is both young and more active. Highly placed sources say that the BJP might either go in for a person from the minorities community for the post of vice-president.
Sources say that the BJP may opt for Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi is a product of the ABVP and has stood by the BJP during the Ayodhya movement. He later joined the BJP and became a union minister. But, this time around, he was dropped from the ministry and was not even renominated to the Rajya Sabha. Sources say that the BJP has done this with a purpose. It wants to make him the vice president.
The bJP feels that Naqvi, a shia, would be useful in improving the relations with Iran, which is likely to emerge as a lynchpin in India's fuel strategies. Also, he would be useful in improving India's relations with 57 Muslim countries across the world. The vice-president would also be the chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.