Nitin Gadkari: “I Do Not Aspire to Become Prime Minister”

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari speaks candidly on his aspirations and political future in an interview with The Economist

Nitin Gadkari, a senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, has quashed any speculation that he had an eye on the post of the Prime Minister of India. He said this in a recent interview with The Economist. Gadkari declared that he is perfectly fine with his present position and doesn’t have any ambition to hold the top political position in the country.

“I am here, happy. I am doing my work. I do not have any aspiration or ambition to become Prime Minister,” Gadkari said, adding, “No one is going to ask me, so no question arises.”

One who holds the pragmatic and centrist image of the BJP, Gadkari is known to be somewhat distinctive in Indian politics due to his association with the RSS-the ideological back bone of the party. Even though the record of infrastructure development, most particularly highway development in India, has only added value to his image, many of his remarks have found their way into controversy as they have been interpreted to imply criticism of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“Nobody is perfect and nobody claims himself to be perfect,” says 67-year-old Gadkari during the interview. Among those, he also mentioned importance for being tolerant in democracy, quoted as, “The greatest test of democracy is the king tolerates the steepest opinion against him”.

Although widely perceived as a criticism of Modi, Gadkari clarified, “I am not talking about any person or leader. Tolerance and respect are integral to India’s political system. It doesn’t mean that we are enemies if we are in opposition. That is the culture of democracy.”

While Gadkari has ruled out his prime ministerial ambitions, his name has often emerged as a potential successor to Modi, especially after the recent political and economic developments. The recent allegations in the United States against Gautam Adani, a prominent businessman closely associated with Modi, have added an interesting layer to BJP’s succession plans.

Despite the BJP losing its parliamentary majority for the first time since 2014 in the 2024 general elections, Modi remains firmly in charge. Home Minister Amit Shah and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath are seen as frontrunners to replace him, with Gadkari trailing behind, says The Economist.

Ultimately, the final call will be left to the BJP’s and RSS’ top echelons, not the popular opinion. Foreign officers look at Gadkari as a more moderate face of the BJP, and the business community is fond of him for advocating public-private partnerships in infrastructure.

Coalition Builder and Grassroots Popularity

Gadkari’s popularity in Maharashtra, especially in Nagpur—his parliamentary constituency since 2014—has been pivotal for the BJP. His ability to garner support from diverse communities, including Muslims, and his reputation as a coalition builder, make him a unique figure in Indian politics.

In September, Gadkari revealed that an opposition leader had offered to make him prime minister if he defected from the BJP before the elections. He rejected the proposition outright, however.

On reflection about BJP’s performance in the 2024 elections, Gadkari admitted that communication was weak and relied too much on identity politics. “We need to communicate better and focus on development, not identity,” he said.

While speculations about his future continue to linger, Gadkari continues to demonstrate his commitment to his existing roles. His statements to The Economist highlight his commitment to democratic values and India’s development agenda. For now, Gadkari seems happy to play a vital, if non-aspirational, role in shaping the BJP’s trajectory.