Nagpur: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that he will not use his photo or banner for his election campaign in the upcoming polls. He said that he will rely on social media to inform the public about the development and welfare work that he has done in the last 10 years. He said that he would seek the blessings of the people, not their publicity. He said that those who consider him a good leader and a good person will vote for him. He also joked that he would not offer liquor or mutton parties to woo the voters, as they are smart and vote from their hearts. He was addressing the ‘Manatale Gadkari’ meeting program at Vasantrao Deshpande Auditorium on Saturday.
Gadkari said that he does not believe in caste, religion, or gender discrimination. He said that caste is in the minds of leaders, not in the public. He said that all political parties use caste as per their convenience. He said that he was against the caste system and indirectly opposed the demand for a caste-based census. He asked what the leaders of different castes have done for the welfare of their communities. He said that they only promote their family members, such as their wives, sons, daughters, or even drivers. He said that voting on the basis of caste is baseless. He recalled that when the Mandal Commission recommended reservation for backward classes, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray had opposed it and the BJP supported it. He said that despite this, Shiv Sena had won more seats than BJP.
Gadkari said that his heir would not be any member of his family, but the BJP worker who has the first right on his seat. He said that he has reached this position only with the trust of the workers. He revealed that he had rejected a request to make his son the president of BJYM, the youth wing of BJP. He said that he had threatened to resign if his son was given the post. On the current alliance between BJP and Shiv Sena, he said that there is no alliance left now. He said that it seems like the BJP is just watching silently whatever Shiv Sena does. He said that there is a lack of people who work with honesty in the country. He said that there is no shortage of money, but good people are needed. He quoted Bal Thackeray’s words that he had written in a gift to him: ‘I like people who can get things done’. He said that Thackeray had told him not to tell him the problems, but to get the work done. He said that he always keeps this in mind. He said that everyone faces problems in life, but one should overcome them with courage and confidence.
