"BJP will win more than 300 LS seats, Modi will be PM and I am not in the race", says minister Nitin Gadkari in India TV conclave

Union Surface Transport and Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari today said, he was confident that his party would win more than 300 Lok Sabha seats and Narendra Modi will again become the Prime Minister. "I am not in the race", he added.

Replying to questions at the day long India TV conclave "Chunav Manch" here, Gadkari said: " Modi government has done in five years, what the previous Congress governments could not do in 50 years. We will win positive vote this time, and our party BJP will form the government under Modi after winning more than 300 seats". 

Asked who would become the PM if BJP won less than 220 seats, Gadkari replied: "I cannot reply to ifs and buts, but I can only say, anything can happen in cricket and politics. Please draw the right meaning from this sentence. Whatever may be the situation, Modi will become the Prime Minister. I am saying this 100 per cent, we will get majority and Modi will be the PM. I am not in the race". 

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Gadkari hit out at Congress leaders for saying that work on Anti-Satellite (ASAT) missile had begun during the UPA regime. " Our scientists won laurels (by conducting missile test). Their government did not give permission. Our government gave the permission and the scientists won laurels. Now they are saying, we had started it. If so, why didn't they do it in last 60 years?"

On the party not fielding veterans like L K Advani, M M Joshi and Shanta Kumar, Gadkari said: "Both Advani Ji and Joshi Ji are our role models, our icons, philosophers and guides. They are a source of inspiration for all of us. It is the call of time (samay kaa takaaza hai) that they will have to retire because of old age. Advani Ji is 93, and the time has come to give the baton to the new generation. This should not be considered disrespectful."

Also read | Nitin Gadkari in Chunav Manch: Development will speak for itself, highlights you can reach Delhi-Meerut in 45 minutes

The Union Minister said that he and Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis had inaugurated Anil Ambani's factory being set up with Dassault's collaboration in Nagpur. "I want to make Nagpur the aviation manufacturing hub of India. Dassault not only makes jet fighters, it also makes Falcon 11-seater planes. These planes will be manufactured in Nagpur. Already, TAL, owned by Tata group is manufacturing 1100 aviation parts for Boeing and Airbus."

Gadkari, who is contesting on BJP ticket from Nagpur constituency again this time, claimed that he had brought Rs 70,000 crore worth projects to his constituency. "We are building broad gauge Metro in Nagpur, whereas Delhi has standard gauge Metro. Malls and beautiful stations are being built with 65 per cent solar power."

The Surface Transport Minister said: "In the last five years, there has not been a single allegation of corruption. My ministry alone gave Rs 17 lakh crore worth contracts, out of which Rs 11 lakh crore contracts were for roads alone, Rs 5 lakh crore were for shipping and Rs 1 lakh crore worth contracts were for water related projects. We brought a policy of transparent, corruption-free, time-bound and quality construction."

"I am going to UP this time for election campaign in an air boat from Varanasi to Prayagraj. This Russian-made air boat has arrived in Mumbai. It can be used both on water and in air."

Gadkari said, "Work on Delhi-Meerut 13-lane expressway will be complete by next month and the travel time will be shortened from four and a half hours to only 45 minutes. Similarly, work on building the National Highway between Mumbai and Delhi via tribal-dominated areas of MP and Gujarat has begun. This will shorten travel time to 12 hours. We have acquired large tracts of land, and this can be used for Bullet Train project in future too."

The Union Minister also revealed that a detailed project report (DPR) for Rs 12,000 crore has been prepared for building a Yamuna waterway from Delhi to Agra and Prayagraj. "Another ambitious plan to build a 1000 kilometre long canal from Gujarat's Kandla port to Jaisalmer in Rajasthan has been prepared. This canal will prevent excess flood water from flowing into the Arabian sea, and can be used for drinking and irrigation purpose in Rajasthan. I regret I could not complete this plan during my tenure."

Watch full video of Nitin Gadkari's session at India TV Conclave Chunav Manch: