Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi

In light of his likelihood to get the Lt Governor's post, the BJP had decided not to field Naqvi in the recent Rajya Sabha polls. "He has been considered for the post because of his wide experience in the government and the party and also to send the right message in the Kashmir Valley that the Centre is serious about fulfilling its promise to have a popular government in J&K before statehood is restored here," a source revealed.

The Central Minority Commission is headed by a Sikh, while earlier a Muslim Ghairul Hasan Rizvi, another Shia, was at the helm. Now sources in the BJP say that though the Shias are a minority within a minority except in Lucknow and some other pockets, the BJP is not able to make inroads within the community. Political analyst Shakil Akhtar says, "It's not about Shia or Sunni, the BJP does not need Muslims as the party has upped the Hindutva plank which has given political benefits to the ruling party."