The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday appointed Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari its chief for the upcoming Goa Assembly elections, reported PTI. The party's National President Amit Shah made the announcement.

Goa, where the BJP is currently in power, will go to polls early next year. According to The Times of India, Gadkari had arbitrated between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP when the former had opposed the state government’s steps to fund Catholic institutions in Goa. Poll experts believe the state will this time see a tripartite contest among the BJP, Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party.

The BJP currently has 21 out of the 40 seats while the Congress has nine. The AAP is trying to make a base in the state this time.

In another development, Singhbhum Lok Sabha MP Laxman Giluwa was made the BJP chief in Jharkhand after Tala Marandi tendered his resignation on August 11. A seasoned politician, Giluwa is also from the tribal community like Marandi was. He shares a good rapport with Chief Minister Raghubar Das, reported The Times of India.