File photo of Narendra Modi.
Narendra Modi rejected a skull cap at his Sadbhavana meet in 2011 and recently called himself a Hindu nationalist to keep his Hindutva mascot image as well as the RSS mentors on his side. But now, as the BJP's campaign chief for 2014 elections, is he seriously eyeing Muslim votes?
At the BJP executive committee meeting in Delhi last weekend, Mr Modi wondered if 20-25 per cent Muslims vote for him in Gujarat, why can't they do that in the rest of the country?
On the face of it, Mr Modi seems to be working on a strategy to mend fences with the minority voters. But sources in the party say Mr Modi was only focussing on backward Muslims who vote more on caste than community lines, especially in states like Bihar, where the BJP ended its alliance with Nitish Kumar, popular among backward Muslims in the state.
Meanwhile, the Sangh and its affiliates are busy crafting a polarising saffron campaign for Mr Modi indicated by a meeting of the VHP leaders with Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday.
The VHP, a strident Hindutva arm within the Sangh, called on the Yadavs seeking the state government's permission to carry out a march for a Ram temple at the disputed site in Ayodhya. The state government denied the permission.
This indicates that a confrontation is brewing, both political and communal. The denial to the VHP by the Akhilesh government will only make the outfit's resolve stronger to stage a nationwide protest for a Ram temple.
Sources in the Sangh say there is no change in its plans for Mr Modi. While he remains a mascot of economic development, the Sangh will build a parallel Hindutva campaign for him.
The hint is clear: the Gujarat Chief Minister cannot opt for an LK Advani-like image makeover in which the BJP patriarch had praised Muhammad Ali Jinnah in a visit to Pakistan in 2005.