New Delhi, Jul 17, 2022, By Special Correspondent
New Delhi, Jul 17: Speculation is doing the rounds in the political circles of the national capital on Sunday that the BJP-led NDA government might instal senior party leader and former union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi as the next governor of West Bengal.
There had been talks that Naqvi could be the BJP's candidate for the post of Vice President, but with the BJP Parliamentary Board on Sunday selecting West Bengal Governor for the post, the grapevine is now active with a new rumour.
Naqvi was a Union Minister till he retired as a member of the Rajya Sabha and resigned from the Union Council of Ministers. He did not get a ticket for re-election to the Rajya Sabha, triggering speculation that he might be the BJP’s vice-presidential candidate for the August 6 elections.
Moreover, adding grist to the rumour mill, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly lauded him at a cabinet meeting, Naqvi's last, for his contributions as his ministerial colleague.
Now that Dhankhar is all set to replace M Venkaiah Naidu as the Vice President, a new gossip is gaining ground in the political circles of Delhi.
A governor is supposed to be apolitical, but analysts point out that the choice of Kolkata Raj Bhawan occupant will be significant as the state will see Lok Sabha elections in 2024, though state assembly elections are quite far away.
64-year-Naqvi is a Shia Muslim leader from Uttar Pradesh who has always shown political maturity, fairness and honesty as minority affairs minister or deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha.
At the same time, it is also worth noting that after Naqvi's resignation, there is no Muslim minister left in the central government.
Party insiders say Naqvi has played a key role in making the BJP victorious in the recent high-profile Azamgarh and Rampur Lok Sabha bye-elections in Uttar Pradesh, and the leadership might reward him.
An immediate slot that is falling vacant in the very near future is that of West Bengal Governor.
According to BJP sources, Naqvi is leading the race to go to West Bengal at the moment. He is a senior leader. He was also a one-time colleague of Mamata in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee cabinet.
As a politician, Naqvi is more skillful and shrewd. Many politicians think that he will not walk the way Dhankhar used to openly oppose Mamata.
Besides, a direct attack on Naqvi could affect the state's minority votes. This particular aspect will make Mamata uncomfortable.
The BJP can kill so many birds with one stone. Will the mantle fall on Naqvi, then?