Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Sunday took a jibe at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) following Union Minister Nitin Gadkari’s recent revelation that an opposition leader had offered to back him for the Prime Minister’s position ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Chaturvedi suggested that Gadkari was “using the excuse of opposition parties” to send a “message to Modiji.”
“Nitin Gadkari ji is expressing his heartfelt desire to be on the top chair. Using the excuse of opposition parties, he is sending a message to Modiji. The INDIA alliance has very capable leaders who can lead the country and wouldn’t want to borrow one from the BJP. Well played, Nitin ji,” Chaturvedi posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Gadkari’s Disclosure at Nagpur Event
At a journalism award function in Nagpur on Saturday, Nitin Gadkari shared an anecdote without naming anyone: “I remember one incident—someone told me, ‘If you are going to become Prime Minister, we will support you.’ But I asked why you should support me and why should I take your support. Becoming the Prime Minister is not the aim of my life. I am loyal to my conviction and my organization, and I am not going to compromise for any post because my conviction is foremost for me.”
During his speech, the Union Minister emphasized the importance of ethics in both journalism and politics. He recounted a meeting with a senior Communist Party of India (CPI) functionary, where he praised the late A.B. Bardhan as one of the tallest politicians from Nagpur and Vidarbha. When the CPI leader expressed surprise, noting Bardhan’s opposition to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Gadkari responded, “One should respect a person who opposes with honesty because there is honesty in his opposition. One who opposes with dishonesty deserves no respect.”
Speculations Around Gadkari’s Political Ambitions
In political circles, Nitin Gadkari is often viewed as a prominent BJP figure who could be a contender for the top post. His name was frequently discussed as a potential prime ministerial candidate ahead of the 2014 and 2019 general elections. Having secured the Nagpur constituency seat three times, Gadkari continues to be an influential leader within the party.
