The nomination of Aligarh Muslim University‘s vice chancellor, Tariq Mansoor, to Uttar Pradesh legislative council is being seen by BJP insiders as the party’s move to attract both the minority intelligentsia as well as Pasmanda Muslims.

Governor Anandiben Patel recently nominated six people to the upper house of the state legislature. The seats had been vacant since May last year. The nomination was also seen as a move to send positive messages to a section of social groups to which the nominees belong, ahead of urban local body polls and 2024 general elections. Mansoor’s name stood out the most.

Mansoor has about four decades of teaching, research, clinical and administrative experience. It was during his chancellorship, a prime minister (Narendra Modi) had addressed the university after a gap of 64 years at its centenary celebrations in 2020.

Hailing from the Pasmanda community, Mansoor has also been a votary of the party’s Pasmanda outreach. According to a UP BJP functionary, Mansoor specifically belongs to the Pasmanda Qureshi community. Many memebers of this community arebutchers. They have been particularly upset with the party owing to closure of illegal slaughterhouses. This move may help BJP warm up to them, besides appealing to the Muslim intelligentsia,given Mansoor’s credentials.