Amit Shah likely to be re-elected as BJP chief today

New Delhi, Jan 24: Amit Shah is set to start a new term as BJP President today as he is likely to be elected unopposed to the party's top post. Party sources say Mr Shah's re-election today is a mere formality.

His current term ended yesterday and the new term will be his first full-term lasting three years.

51-year-old Mr Shah, seen as a close confidante of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, took charge as the BJP President in May 2014, midway during the tenure of his predecessor Rajnath Singh who joined the government as Home Minister.

Almost all BJP chief ministers, along with some union ministers, are likely to be in attendance today when Mr Shah files his nomination papers and is expected to declared as the party chief.

PM Modi is hosting a dinner for Mr Shah and his team, including vice presidents, general secretaries and secretaries, tonight.

During Mr Shah's term as BJP President, the BJP came to power in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir, but also suffered defeats in Delhi and Bihar assembly elections, triggering some rumblings in the party.

BJP sources, however, insist Mr Shah's "energetic and focused" leadership has strengthened the party by pushing its membership across the country and expanding its reach in Assam, Kerala and West Bengal, where the party had never been a force to be reckoned with.

The party president's election in the BJP is normally unopposed. Last time, senior party leader Yashwant Sinha had expressed his willingness to contest but later decided against it.

PTI