Rajnath Singh will take over as Bharatiya Janata Party's president on January 2, a senior party leader told the media on Thursday morning.

Officially, the party is still not willing to admit that Rajnath has been chosen to succeed Lal Kishenchand Advani.

"A formal announcement will be made only on December 31 by Advaniji at a press conference when he demits office," Venkaiah Naidu told rediff.com.

Rajnath is unlikely to tinker with the top brass but may induct some of his trusted leaders in key positions a few weeks after taking over, the sources said.

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