Shah's name was on the shortlist that included former Rajasthan unit chief Om Mathur and general secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda, a former minister from Himachal Pradesh. Shah's name was on the shortlist that included former Rajasthan unit chief Om Mathur and general secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda, a former minister from Himachal Pradesh.

Amit Shah is likely to be anointed president of the BJP on Wednesday. Dubbed by many as the man who turned around the party's fortunes in Uttar Pradesh weeks ago, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trusted aide is now all set to take over the command of the party as part of the BJP-RSS strategy to consolidate the gains from the BJP's colossal Lok Sabha victory.

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The announcement of Shah's elevation from General Secretary in-charge of Uttar Pradesh to the president of the party is likely to come on Wednesday after a meeting of the BJP's apex decision making body, the Parliamentary Board, a top ranking minister close to Modi confirmed on Tuesday evening.



Incumbent president Rajnath Singh is expected to nominate Shah as president for the remainder, nearly half, of his three-year term in the board meeting on Wednesday and the board will approve the appointment, sources said.

Shah's name was on the shortlist that included former Rajasthan unit chief Om Mathur and general secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda, a former minister from Himachal Pradesh.



While Mathur shared credit with current Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje Scindia for the party's victory in the Assembly elections of November 2013 and the general elections, both are not known to be the best of friends. The friction between the two is understood to have spoilt Mathur's chances, even though he is Modi's contemporary and former party colleague from Gujarat.

Nadda was seen as a low-key but hard working party general secretary who contributed to the organisation's strength during the general elections. But, there were allegations against him of stoking infighting in the HP Assembly elections in late 2012 that the party lost.

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Shah has alleged fake encounter killing cases pending against him. Also, his appointment would mean both the PM and the party president posts will go to leaders from Gujarat. The RSS had initially expressed reservations on the two counts against his elevation but finally came around because the BJP and its ally Apna Dal won 73 of the 80 seats in UP, paving the way for a majority in the Lok Sabha.



The Sangh does not want a repeat of the past when during the BJP-led NDA regime between 1998 and 2004, the party was led by political lightweights like Bangaru Laxman and Kushabhau Thakre that led to the weakening of the party organisation. It wants the BJP to strengthen its base in the new areas where it has managed to register its electoral presence in the 2014 election.



For the purpose, it has decided to depute its leaders Ram Madhav and Shiv Prakash to join Shah's team. Modi too had been sent into the BJP from the RSS, 24 years ago to work in Gujarat.

