New Delhi: Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Wednesday quit as Union Minister in PM Modi’s cabinet amidst the buzz that he may be a contender for the post of Vice President of India.
Naqvi’s Rajya Sabha term ends tomorrow and the BJP did not name him for another term during recent elections.
Earlier in the day, Naqvi also met PM Modi and BJP National President JP Nadda.
The ruling party has been discussing a representative of a minority community for the second-highest constitutional post, especially at a time the BJP is facing an unprecedented backlash over the Prophet Muhammad comments by suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma, a report published in NDTV added.
M Venkaiah Naidu’s term as Vice President ends on August 10. July 19 is the last date for nominations for Vice President. The elections will be held on August 6.
Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, former Union Minister Najma Heptulla and former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh are also in the running, reports say.
