'No Guarantee Our Govt Will Return But…': What Gadkari Said About Ramdas Athawale In Nagpur

Taking a playful jibe at him, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said his cabinet colleague Ramdas Athawale has displayed his political prowess throughout his career due to his ability become a minister across multiple governments.

“It may not be guaranteed that our government will return for a fourth term, but what is definitely guaranteed is that Ramdas Athawale will become a minister,” he teased Athawale at an event organised by the Marwari Foundation in Nagpur on Sunday (September 22).

Gadkari presented the Marwari Foundation’s Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Award to Athawale during the programme, and said the cabinet minister has always stood for social justice as a leader of the Dalit Panthers.

Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Ramdas Athawale has served as a minister thrice and expressed confidence that he will continue his streak if the BJP returns to power for a fourth term.

Gadkari further narrated the Athawale’s political career underlining that he was among those who always anticipate what will happen next. Calling him a “political scientist”, he also referred to veteran politicians Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan.

Ahead of the upcoming Maharashtra assembly elections, Athawale said the RPI(A) is likely to contest 10 to 12 seats. In Maharashtra, his party is part of the ruling Mahayuti that comprises the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar’s NCP. At a national level, it is part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alliance led by the BJP.

Only a few days ago, he claimed that due to the inclusion of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP in the alliance, his party did not get any ministerial berth in the state despite a promise. He also expressed confidence that the ruling Mahayuti will secure 150 to 160 seats in the elections to the 288-member state assembly.

“RPI (A) did not get any ministerial position in the Maharashtra cabinet after Ajit Pawar joined the Mahayuti government. Our party had been promised cabinet positions, chairmanship of two corporations, and roles in district-level committees. But all this could not happen due to Pawar’s inclusion,” he said. “For the upcoming Maharashtra elections, the RPI (A) should be given 12 seats to contest. We should also be given representation in the state cabinet.”