Rajnath likely to take over on January 2

Rajnath Singh is all set to become the president of teh Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on January 2, according to top sources in the party. Outgoing party president LK Advani is expected to announce his formal resignation from the party post on December 31.

As far as protocol is concerned, the new president can be named after a meeting of the BJP parliamentary board, which can take a decision on behalf of its national council.

The meeting is likely to take place on January 1 or 2. A meeting of the BJP national council to ratify this decision of the parliamentary board will be held later that month.

Singh had earlier been chosen to complete M Venkaiah Naidu's original three-year term, which had been interrupted by Naidu's resignation and his replacement by Advani. Advani had to resign after differences between him and the RSS cropped up after his visit to Pakistan in June this year.

Singh, who was supported by top BJP leaders and the Sangh, was reported, not keen to be elected president for what has now come to be known as the "unluckiest term" for a BJP chief.

"Who wants to be president only for a year, and then join the ranks of former chiefs and so-called veterans," he is reported to have told his supporters.

The BJP leadership has apparently assured him of a second contiguous term to bring him around. However, what will happen in a year from now is yet to be seen. But for now Singh will find the going tough.