Lucknow, Aug. 18 -- With Uttar Pradesh headed for assembly polls early next year, the BJP's new national team appears to have been formed to strike a balance between caste, community, region, religion and gender. Eight leaders from the state find representation in the organisational reshuffle announced by party president Nitin Nabin on Monday.

Significantly, Uttar Pradesh is the only state to have Muslim representatives in the new national team. Tariq Mansoor, Member of Legislative Council and former Aligarh Muslim University vice chancellor, has been retained as national vice-president. Kunwar Basit Ali has been elevated as Minority Morcha national president. The induction of two faces from the Pasmanda community is being seen as part o...