Ahemdabad, Today, BJP will announce the next Chief Minister of Gujarat, who will succeed Anandiben Patel, even as BJP president Amit Shah held intensive deliberations with party leaders to finalise the candidate.

On Wednesday, BJP's parliamentary board accepted Anandiben Patel's offer to resign at its meeting in Delhi, paving the way for appointment of a new chief minister to lead the party in 2017 Assembly polls.

“The party legislators and office bearers will meet at 4 p.m. on Friday at the party headquarters in Gandhinagar to select a new leader to be Chief Minister,” said Vijay Rupani after meeting Mr. Shah.

Two central observers appointed by the party’s central parliamentary board - Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and parliamentarian Saroj Pandey - will conduct the process.