BJP President Nitin Gadkari has resigned from the post of Party President. In a statement issued late last night Mr. Gadkari opted out of the race for the Party President. He said, he didn't want the allegations against him to adversely affect the interest of party in any way.

Mr. Gadkari was all set for re-election before senior leader Yeshwant Sinha decided to throw his hat in the election, the process for which is to begin today. The move forced top BJP leadership and RSS leaders to take stock of the emerging situation.

Our correspondent reports that Mr. Rajnath Singh appears to have emerged as a consensus candidate. Mr. Gadkari is likely to propose Mr. Rajnath Singh's name for the top Party post today.

Rajnath Singh has been a former National President of BJP. He has been a former Chief Minister of UP and also a Cabinet Minister in NDA regime.