Nitin Gadkari rules out return to Maharashtra politics
Union road minister says he is not interested to leave Delhi and get back to state politics
By PTI
Nagpur: Union road transport, highways and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday ruled out the possibility of his return to Maharashtra politics in the wake of the sudden demise of Union rural development minister Gopinath Munde.
“Initially I was not interested in central politics in Delhi, and now I am not interested to leave Delhi and come to Maharashtra politics," said Gadkari, who hails from Nagpur.
He was replying to a question at a “Meet the Press" programme here on whether he would like to return to state politics to lead the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the assembly elections due in October.
Munde, Maharashtra BJP’s prominent mass leader and the architect of the BJP’s impressive victory in the Lok Sabha elections, was killed in a car crash in Delhi on 3 June.
On the demand for the creation of a separate state of Vidarbha, Gadkari said it would require two-third majority in the Parliament and a consensus with other political parties in Delhi.
Listing his priorities, Gadkari said his ministry has taken up ‘the clean Ganga project’ seriously which would cost ₹ 1 trillion. The work is expected to commence within four months. The minister also expressed keen interest in operating inland waterways from Allahabad to Hooghly.
Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!