‘I am not a career politician, but…’: Nitin Gadkari on potential portfolio if BJP wins Lok Sabha election 2024

Asserting that he is a committed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh volunteer, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that he believes “politics is the instrument of social and economic reform".  

Gadkari is one of the most popular cabinet ministers from the outgoing Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. 

The Union Minister is looking for a third Lok Sabha term from Nagpur and is pitted against Congress’ Vikas Thakre.

Speaking to Hindustan Times ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Gadkari said: “I am not a career politician, but rather a social worker. I believe politics is the instrument of social and economic reform. Politics consists of . I am doing social work, particularly in agriculture, water conservation, and biofuels. I am just a mediocre person, not a highly qualified one. I am not so intelligent...but have been conferred six D Lits from different universities." 

Gadkari said that he has received respect and love from all sections of people who appreciate his work as a minister. "It is beyond my imagination. I still feel that I do not in fact deserve what I have got. It is the sheer love of the people. I know my limitations," Nitin Gadkari told Hindustan Times.

Responding to opposition fears that the BJP government will amend the Constitution after the Lok Sabha elections, said that the Opposition is trying to terrorize people by spreading lies. 

“The Constitution’s salient features and basic structure cannot be changed. In the Kesavananda Bharati case, the said no part of the Constitution, including fundamental rights, was beyond the Parliament’s amending power but the basic structure cannot be changed..." 

Gadkari said that by pushing such a false narrative, the opposition is trying to “mislead"