Gadkari: NDA got more seats than we had hoped

Nagpur: BJP MP Nitin Gadkari is firmly back in the saddle once again. Due to his influential position in the party he is expected to get a plum portfolio. Using this position he plans to complete the various works he had started in his first tenure as Nagpur MP and initiate some new ones. TOI spoke to him on various issues, national as well as local. The excerpts:
Q: Are you satisfied with NDA’s performance in the elections?
A: We got more seats than expected. We have got four seats in a state like Telangana, where we had none last time. This shows that the nation reposed faith in the exemplary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and rewarded the work done by our government in past five years.
Q: Opposition parties had levelled allegations that EVMs had been tampered with. Your take on it.
A: The Election Commission has announced that all VVPAT slip counts matched with EVM figures. There was no substance in these allegations. Chandrababu Naidu (outgoing chief minister) has been shown the door by people of Andhra Pradesh.
Q: What is your prediction for Maharashtra’s assembly polls due soon?
A: BJP and Shiv Sena combine will win it easily. In fact, we have already started preparing for it. If Modi’s work has been rewarded in Lok Sabha, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ excellent performance too will be recognized by voters.
Q: Why did your victory margin reduce as compared to last time?
A: My vote share has increased this time. The margin reduced as it was a straight fight, and the BSP candidate did not poll any votes. In addition, AAP was missing from the scene. In fact, the BSP candidate has been expelled from the party for not campaigning seriously. However, all this does not matter. Over 6.5 lakh people have voted for me.
Q: What will be your priority in your second term?
A: It is to generate 75,000 jobs in coming three years. I will ensure that 50,000 people get employment in Mihan within two years. Another 25,000 will get work in the ready-made garment zone on Empress Mill land. This will be ready in three years. I want that youngsters of Nagpur don’t have to go to other cities for employment.
Q: Several works initiated by you are nowhere near completion.
A: I will ensure that they are complete in coming two to three years. There are a lot of pending works. Six roads have to be widened and the shopkeepers rehabilitated in wholesale grain markets at Harihar Mandir and Kalamna. The Futala and Ambazari lakes development project have to be completed. Sports Authority of India (SAI) regional centre’s land acquisition problems will have to be solved. All the city buses and vehicles of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) will be run on CNG. Electric cars will be introduced.
Q: What are the new works you have in mind?
A: It is to make Nagpur completely water and air-pollution free. It is a tall task but I will try my best.
Q: Bharat Nagar residents are up in arms against the road planned through Bharat Van. Will you change your plans?
A: I will personally go there and talk to them. We will not fell a single tree and transplant all of them. Moreover, minimum number of trees will be affected.