Across the Aisle: The importance of being Mr Gadkari

There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that the target was Mr Narendra Modi. If the BJP does not win an absolute majority or finds itself unable to form the government, it is believed that Mr Gadkari will challenge Mr Modi for the leadership of the party.

elephanta caves, elephanta caves mumbai, gateway of india, uber taxis, nitin gadkari, mumbai news, indian express news — Mr Gadkari and Mr Devendra Fadnavis belong to Nagpur and draw their support from the same region and the same political base of leaders and workers.

Mr Nitin Gadkari is an uncommon politician. By his own admission he is a foodie, he wears chic clothes and seems to enjoy life. He enjoys speaking at public functions and he speaks as if he does not have a care in the world.

At the same time, he is a swayamsevak. He is believed to be a favourite of the RSS. He nurses his constituency, Nagpur (Maharashtra), and keeps the RSS, his party leaders and his party workers in good humour.

Mr Gadkari and Mr Devendra Fadnavis belong to Nagpur and draw their support from the same region and the same political base of leaders and workers. The talk in Maharashtra is that Mr Gadkari wanted to be chief minister of Maharashtra but Mr Narendra Modi scuppered the plan. Mr Modi chose

Mr Devendra Fadnavis, a loyalist. It was supposed to be a smart move to check Mr Gadkari’s ambitions, if any. However, the irrepressible Mr Gadkari has cut loose and carved out a path for himself.

Gadkari Gems

Mr Gadkari is known for his focused attention to his portfolios — highways and road transport, water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation. He has a mixed record of performance as a minister. Good in highway construction, hype about Ganga rejuvenation, underperformance in water resource development and woefully behind on irrigation projects.

Outside his office, he is blunt and forthright in his utterances. In March 2018, at a media-organised conclave, he said, “Media has in the past trapped us over the question of achche din. Please don’t misinterpret what I say. There is no such achche din… Achche din is a belief, if you believe, it is there.” Again in August 2018, when the agitations for reservation were gathering strength, he said, “Even if reservation is given, there are no jobs. Jobs in banks have shrunk because of technology. Government recruitment is frozen.” Many people suspected that Mr Gadkari’s target was not the agitators (for demanding reservation) but the Modi government (for its failure to create jobs).