New Delhi: For a party that increased its tally in the Lok Sabha from two to 84 on a distinct pro-Hindu vote, Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) attempts to openly woo Muslims have stirred a debate whether the strategy will pay off.

While political experts and community leaders attribute various reasons for some Muslims "accepting" BJP, they all agree that it still might take some time before the "second largest majority" votes for the saffron party and reposes faith in it.

"It's just an extension of the BJP's feel-good, which is not going to have an impact in terms of votes," says Kamal Farooqui, national spokesman of the All India Milli Council, questioning the secular credentials of the BJP.

"Unless they (BJP and National Democratic Alliance - NDA allies) change their attitude with their actions, it will be difficult to repose faith in them," he says pointing towards the Gujarat riots in the aftermath of Godhra massacre.

Echoing him, Prof Ashish Nandy of the Centre for Study of Developing Societies, says, "BJP's record on communal score is so poor that despite all this, the (Muslim) community might not vote for it."

Trotting reasons for some prominent Muslim politicians joining BJP, Nandy says, "Muslims are tired of Congress. It wasn't offering them anything. The older Muslim leaders were not finding their voices or comfort and that perhaps is why they are shifting."

A political observer, requesting anonymity, says there has been a change in perception among Muslims regarding the BJP and they are "shedding their suspicion". He also cites prominent intellectual Dr Rafiq Zakaria's comment that the present Government has contributed towards modernisation of 'madrasa' education like no other Government did before.

Providing a historical perspective to the debate, M S Usmani, vice-chairman of the National Minorities Commission, says 50 years ago the Congress was described as a "Hindu party" by the Muslim League and national leaders like Rafi Ahmed Kidwai and Maulana Abul Kalam Azad were branded "anti-Muslim" and "show-boys of Gandhiji."

Referring to Jinnah, he says at that time the whole community swayed behind a leader who could not in the conventional sense be described as a Muslim either from his culture, or his dress or habits.

At that time, leaders like Maulana Azad had predicted the failure of two-nation theory, which came true when Bangladesh was formed, he said, observing that the bogey that Muslims would not be allowed to practise their religion under BJP rule is "fading away".

Nonetheless, Usmani agrees that the Ayodhya issue and Gujarat riots have proved to be a "setback" for those who were beginning to alter their thinking about the BJP.

Usmani points out that the Congress got over this image gradually after partition when many known leaders of the Muslim League like Moin-ul Haq Chaudhary in Assam, who did not opt for Pakistan, joined the party.

He notes that every party has a strategy and an eye on the vote bank. If the BJP leadership is wooing Muslims, then "what's wrong," he says, observing that the Prime Minister as well as the Deputy Premier have described the Gujarat riots as an aberration.

The political observer says the saffron party has made a few efforts to improve its image among the Muslims like providing for direct Haj flights from several Indian cities.

According to Usmani, a greater presence of Muslim members in the party could result in their voice being heard and their problems being addressed.

But people like Farooqui point out that in 52 years since the first Lok Sabha elections community representation in Parliament has gone down from 52 in the first Lok Sabha to 32 in the dissolved House, as compared to an ideal 68-70 given that Muslims comprise 12 per cent of the population.

As for the BJP, he says Muslims are tired of "lip service". "The party will have to bring to book the culprits of Bilkis case and other perpetrators of Gujarat riots to instil confidence among the community," he adds.

Nandy concedes that the BJP is trying to improve its image and provide some kind of political mobility to Muslim leaders. "It's difficult to say how much votes will it translate into, although it could them some support now."