Amit Shah, a close aide of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been announced as the new BJP president by the party's highest decision-making body, on Wednesday.

While announcing his appointment, Rajnath Singh lauded Shah's work, saying, "BJP Parliamentary board approves Amit Shah as national party president. He has all the capabilities and management skills required for strengthening of BJP."

Shah was the party strategist instrumental in scripting BJP's massive victory in the north, especially in the politically key state of Uttar Pradesh, where it won 71 of the total 80 seats.

According to sources, Shah will take over from Rajnath Singh, who is now the Union Home Minister and has announced he will relinquish his BJP role in keeping with the party's "one-man, one-post" formula. The announcement was made today during the BJP's Parliamentary board meeting.

ALSO READ: Things you need to know about BJP's new President Amit Shah

Amit Bhai started his journey as an ordinary Karyakarta & has repeatedly proven himself through tireless hardwork & determination. July 9, 2014

Congratulations to Shri Amit Shah on his elevation to the BJP President's post. He is known for his organisational and management skills. — Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) July 9, 2014

My good wishes to Shri Amit Shah for his new innings. I'm confident that the BJP will continue moving forward in his stewardship. — Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) July 9, 2014

With Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Haryana scheduled to go to polls later this year, Shah if elevated to the top post will have a herculean task to bring the BJP into power in all the three states. While Maharashtra and Haryana are being ruled by the Congress, Jharkhand is being governed by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha under the leadership of Hemant Soren.

Recently, the Maharashtra BJP unit had advocated for Shah to handle the election campaign in the state. Known to be a sharp political strategist, the former Gujarat home minister remains Modi's most trusted political aide and masterstrategist. Shah had served as the home minister of Gujarat when Modi was the chief minister. Shah, who had a plastics and printing business, met Modi in the late 1980s.

It was earlier said that Shah, who is currently BJP's national general secretary, may contest from Vadodara Lok Sabha seat that was vacated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi who retained Varanasi constituency.

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(First published on ZeeNews)