Nitin Jairam Gadkari (/nitin ɡʌdkʌˈri/ ; born 27 May 1957) is an Indian politician from Maharashtra[2] who is serving as the 40th Minister of Road Transport & Highways in the Government of India since 2014.[3] He is also the longest serving Minister for Road Transport & Highways, currently in his tenure for over ten years, and is the only person to serve under a single portfolio for three consecutive terms.[4] Gadkari earlier served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from 2009 to 2013.[5]

Nitin Gadkari
40th Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways
Assumed office
26 May 2014
President
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byOscar Fernandes
9th Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
In office
30 May 2019 – 7 July 2021
PresidentRam Nath Kovind
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byGiriraj Singh
Succeeded byNarayan Rane
7th Union Minister of Shipping
In office
26 May 2014 – 30 May 2019
President
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byG. K. Vasan
Succeeded byMansukh L. Mandaviya
43rd Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation
In office
3 September 2017 – 30 May 2019
PresidentRam Nath Kovind
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byUma Bharti
Succeeded byGajendra Singh Shekhawat
19th Union Minister of Rural Development
In office
4 June 2014 – 9 November 2014
PresidentPranab Mukherjee
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byGopinath Munde
Succeeded byBirender Singh
6th Union Minister of Panchayati Raj
In office
4 June 2014 – 9 November 2014
PresidentPranab Mukherjee
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byGopinath Munde
Succeeded byBirender Singh
5th Union Minister of Drinking Water and Sanitation
In office
4 June 2014 – 9 November 2014
PresidentPranab Mukherjee
Prime MinisterNarendra Modi
Preceded byGopinath Munde
Succeeded byBirender Singh
9th National President of Bharatiya Janata Party
In office
23 December 2009 – 23 January 2013
Preceded byRajnath Singh
Succeeded byRajnath Singh
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
Assumed office
16 May 2014
Speaker of LS
Preceded byVilas Muttemwar
ConstituencyNagpur, Maharashtra
17th Leader of the Opposition in Maharashtra Legislative Council
In office
23 October 1999 – 11 April 2005
Governor
Chief Minister
Chairmen of the House
Preceded byChhagan Bhujbal
Succeeded byPandurang Fundkar
Member of Maharashtra Legislative Council
In office
20 July 1990 – 16 May 2014
Succeeded byAnil Sole
ConstituencyNagpur Graduates (constituency no. 03)
Cabinet Minister, Government of Maharashtra
In office
14 March 1995 – 31 January 1999
Minister
GovernorP. C. Alexander
Chief MinisterManohar Joshi
Deputy CMGopinath Munde
Cabinet Minister, Government of Maharashtra
In office
1 February 1999 – 17 October 1999
Minister
GovernorP. C. Alexander
Chief MinisterNarayan Rane
Deputy CMGopinath Munde
President of Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtra
In office
5 April 2005 – 22 December 2009
Preceded byPandurang Fundkar
Succeeded bySudhir Mungantiwar
Personal details
Born
Nitin Jairam Gadkari

(1957-05-27) 27 May 1957 (age 67)
Nagpur, Bombay State (present–day Maharashtra), India
Political partyBharatiya Janata Party
SpouseKanchan Gadkari
Children3 (2 sons and 1 daughter)
Education
Alma mater
Occupation
  • Businessman
  • politician
Websitenitingadkari.org.in

He currently represents the Nagpur constituency in the Lok Sabha and is a lawyer by profession. He has previously served as a Minister in various departments, including Water resources and River development, Shipping, Rural Development and MSME. He is often referred to as the "Expressway Man of India" by the media due to his initiation of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and his contributions to the development of expressways and other road infrastructure.[6][7] The World Economic Forum has recognised him as the "pioneer of public–private partnership (PPP) in the road sector".[8] Under his tenure as Minister of Road and Transport, the Indian highway network grew by 59% within 9 years.[9]

Early life

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Gadkari was born into a Marathi family[10][11][12][13][14] in Nagpur, India to Jairam Gadkari and Bhanutai Gadkari on 27 May 1957.[15][16] During his adolescence, he worked for the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and the student union Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. He completed M.Com. and LL.B. from Nagpur University.[17]

Political career

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Gadkari served as the Minister of Public Works Department (PWD) of the Government of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999 and restructured it from top to bottom.[18] He has served as the president of the Maharashtra state unit of BJP.[19]

Gadkari strongly supported privatisation while he campaigned for investments in infrastructure from private firms. He addressed several meetings between private investors, contractors, builders and various trade organisations and diverted large amounts of budgeted projects towards privatisation. Subsequently, the state government allocated 7 billion for rural connectivity. Over the next four years, all-weather road connectivity in Maharashtra was extended to 98% of the population. The project aimed to connect 13,736 remote villages which remained unconnected since independence by road.[20][21] It also helped ameliorate malnutrition in remote Melghat-Dharni area of Amravati district, which previously had no access to medical aid, ration or educational facilities.

The Union Government appointed him as the Chairman of National Rural Road Development Committee. After a series of meetings and studies, Gadkari submitted his report to the central government and gave the presentation to Atal Bihari Vajpayee, then Prime Minister of India. His new report was accepted and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, an ambitious rural road connecting scheme worth ₹600 billion, was launched.[22][23] He received the Late Madhavrao Limaye Award by Public Library Nashik, for Most Efficient Member of Parliament for 2020-21.[24][25]

Positions served

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As Public Works Department (PWD) Minister, Maharashtra, 1996–99

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As PWD Minister of Maharashtra, Gadkari played a crucial role in expediting the construction of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.[30] In 1990, the Government of Maharashtra conducted feasibility studies for the new expressway to be operated on a toll basis, however, it was only after Gadkari took over as PWD Minister[31] that the construction of this project was fast-tracked. Gadkari entrusted the work of the construction of Mumbai-Pune expressway to MSRDC in March 1997 on Build-Operate-Transfer basis with permission to collect toll for 30 years. The tender notice[32] was published in leading newspapers all over India and also on the Internet. Due to the wide publicity, 133 tenders were sold and on 18 December 1997, 55 tenders were received. After technical and financial evaluation, tenders were accepted and work orders were given on 1 January 1998 to four contractors. Thereafter tenders for widening of the Khandala and Lonavala-Khandala bypass works were invited. The tenders were received on 24 August 1998 and orders were issued on 4 September 1998. The first sections of the Expressway opened in 2000, and the entire route was completed, opened to traffic and made fully operational from April 2002.

The other major achievement of Gadkari as state minister[33] was the construction of 55 flyovers in Mumbai, which eased the city traffic problems significantly.

As President of BJP, 2009–2013

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Gadkari was appointed the president of the BJP in December 2009. This was considering a tough phase for the BJP as the party had lost two successive Lok Sabha elections and needed a quick revamp.[34]

In his book India Aspires, co-authored with Tuhin Sinha,[35] Gadkari spells out his development ideas for the country in great detail. Increased institutional support to green energy, alternate fuel and effective waste management hold special importance in Gadkari's development plan. [36]

As BJP party president, Gadkari, re-emphasised on legendary Jan Sangh leader Deen Dayal Upadhya's principles of Integral Humanism and Antyodaya (upliftment of the poor). At the same time, various cells[37][38] were constituted within the party to regularly monitor the develop work undertaken by various BJP state governments and to come up with new policy inputs.

Gadkari resigned as party president in January 2013.[39][40]

2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections

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Gadkari contested 2014 Lok Sabha election successfully from Nagpur constituency and won. He defeated Congress party candidate Vilas Muttemwar by margin of 285,000. He retained his seat in 2019, defeating Nana Patole of Congress party by 216,000 margin.[2]

Union Minister

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Gadkari taking charge as the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping, in New Delhi on 29 May 2014.
 
Gadkari taking charge as the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, in New Delhi on 4 June 2019.
 
Bill Gates and Melinda Gates, Co-Chairs of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation calls on the Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari and his wife Kanchan Gadkari, in New Delhi on 19 September 2014.

Gadkari became the Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Minister of Shipping in May 2014.[41] Out of the stalled projects he inherited, projects worth 1 trillion (US$12 billion) were terminated and others worth 350 billion (US$4.2 billion) were put up for rebidding.[42] He increased the pace of road creation in the country from 2 km/day to 16.5 km/day in his first year and to 21 km/day in the second year and end of 2018 30 km/day.[43] He reserved an amount of one per cent of the total projects awarded in his tenure worth 2 trillion (US$24 billion) for trees and beautification.[44]

During the Second Modi ministry, Gadkari retained Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, while the Ministry of Shipping and Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation were replaced with Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises on 31 May 2019.[45] Highway construction pace post 2019 was 36 km per day in 2020 and Gadkari aims to take it to 68 kms per day with a target of 25000 kms in 2022-23.[46][47] In line with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat green fuel adoption and fuel self sufficiency Gadkari drove to the parliament in a hydrogen powered FCEV Toyota Mirai car. He asked people to opt for green fuel vehicles.[48]

Gadkari, who was virtually present at the inauguration of the headquarters of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) on 28 October 2020, made a speech that was highly critical of the NHAI officials and bureaucracy.[49][50][51]

Gadkari has been praised for several initiatives by both BJP and Congress leaders as well as critics, most notably for increasing blend of ethanol in gasoline, encouraging mixing plastic in asphalt-bitumen roads, as well as launching the Bharat NCAP.[52][53] The Bharat NCAP has been launched on the lines of Global NCAP,[54] which is based on Latin NCAP 2016.[55] Due to absence of safety features in cars made for India, which was noted following the crash testing of a few models in 2014, Gadkari mandated safety features such as ABS and 6 airbags(earlier 2 airbags) for cars sold across India.[56][57] While he received praise for trying to make roads and cars safer, some automakers criticised this decision, stating that adding safety features will drive up prices of vehicles and make them unaffordable.[58]

Khasdar Sanskrutik Mahotsav

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Gadkari, organises Khasdar Sanskrutik Mahotsav every year in Nagpur. The event focuses on India's diverse cultural heritage, encompassing traditional arts, music, dance, and literature. The Program Involves Various Bollywood celebrtities, singers and performers including Hema Malini, Mika Singh, Amit Trivedi and Adnan Sami.[59][60]

2024 general election

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In March 2024, he was announced as the BJP candidate from his home constituency Nagpur in the 2024 General Elections.[61] He secured a decisive victory for the third consecutive time, defeating his closest Congress rival by a margin of 137,603 votes.[62][63]

Industrial career

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During his career in politics, Gadkari set up a number of private industries and companies.[64] These include –

  • Poly sack Industrial Society Ltd – founder and chairman[26]
  • Nikhil Furniture and Appliances Pvt. Ltd – promoter and director[26]
  • Antyodaya Trust – founder and member[26]
  • Empress Employees Co-operative Paper Mills Ltd – founder and chairman[26]
  • Purti Power and Sugar Ltd / Purti Sakhar Karkhana Ltd – promoter[65]

Gadkari has registered himself as an agriculturist for tax purposes. He also started a fruit export company under the banner of "Ketaki Overseas Trading Company".[26] He owns a total of 17 sugar plantations in Vidarbha under the banner of the Purti group. Gadkari floated the Purti Power and Sugar Ltd (now Purti Group) in 1995,[66] when he started as PWD minister in Maharashtra. In 2012, the companies came into the media glare based on irregularities unearthed by RTI activist Anjali Damania, the Income Tax department investigated a number of firms that had invested in Purti, and found more than a dozen of these to be bogus addresses.[67] Another three investing firms were found co-located with the Somani Group, but no one knew of these firms.[68] Following this, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal amplified the allegations accusing Gadkari of irregularities. However, Kejriwal apologised unconditionally after Gadkari filed a defamation case against him.[69]

In 2010, when the Purti group had incurred losses of Rs. 640 million,[70] the firm IRB, which had obtained hefty road contracts under Gadkari's term as PWD minister, loaned the group Rs. 1.64 billion, which was higher than Purthi's turnover of Rs. 1.45 billion. When questioned on Marathi channel IBN-Lokmat, about why he did not avail a loan from banks, Gadkari explained that the balance sheets of the company were not in a suitable state, so he had requested his friend Dattatray to help him out.[71] Also, Gadkari's son Nikhil was allegedly a director with IRB at the time. Gadkari argued that there was nothing wrong in having contractors invest in one's firms.[72]

The news of these allegations broke a few months before Gadkari was to seek re-election as president of the BJP. At the time, Gadkari was to address several rallies for the 2012 Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly election. India Today reported that BJP leader Shanta Kumar had suggested that Gadkari's presence was "affecting BJP's anti-corruption campaign."[73] Subsequently, Gadkari cancelled his scheduled rallies at Bilaspur and Solan on 30 October.

In early 2013, in the elections for BJP president, for which Gadkari was "close to clinching a second innings"[74] his chances unravelled with several senior leaders suggesting that the I-T indictment of the Purti groups investments had damaged his image,[75] and Gadkari was not re-elected.[76] Gadkari told the Times of India that he was stepping down until the inquiry proved him innocent.[77] Some RSS functionaries have suggested that his exit was the result of infighting.[78] Subsequently, Gadkari threatened the I-T officers, saying "when our party comes to power, there would be no Chidambaram or Sonia to save them (I-T officials)"; Gadkari said,"Earlier CBI was doing Congress's bidding and now the I-T people are following suit."[79] The I-T officers association took umbrage at these remarks and demanded an apology.[80]

Eventually, in May 2013, the Income Tax department assessed that Gadkari's firms had evaded Rs. 70 million via such benami investments and other practices. On 30 April 2014, then Congress union Minister Manish Tewari apologised to Gadkari when he was dragged in to a defamation suit by the latter. This apology was based on the judicial commission mention that Gadkari had played no role or had no concern with the scam.[81] On 13 May 2014, the Income Tax department of Maharashtra state cleared Gadkari's name and gave him a clean chit saying there is no investigation presently pending.[71][82][83] GPS based toll collection will start on National Highways, said Nitin Gadkari.[84]

Personal life

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Nitin Gadkari is married to Kanchan Gadkari and they have three children, Nikhil, Sarang and Ketki.[85][86] His eldest son Nikhil is married to Rutuja Pathak[87] and Sarang Gadkari is married to Madhura Rodi.[88] Gadkari and his family follow a vegetarian diet.[13]

Controversies

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In August 2019 Gadkari created controversy when he stated that he had advised the then Union Finance Minister to sack the RBI Governor because the latter was inflexible and adamant.[89]

In 2009, seven-year-old Yogita Thakre was found dead with bruises all over her body in a car allegedly owned by Gadkari and parked near his home. Maharashtra's Criminal Investigation Department (CID) tried twice to close the case, but was rejected by local courts. Mr Gadkari's employees claimed that the girl accidentally locked herself in the boot of the car and died of suffocation. The girl's mother, however, claimed she was murdered. Yogita's post-mortem report said that she was smothered to death.[90]

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In 27 October 2023, a Marathi language biopic titled Gadkari was released in Maharashtra.[91]

See also

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References

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Citations

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  1. ^ "Profile: Nitin Gadkari". Times Of India. 24 February 2023. Retrieved 25 February 2023.
  2. ^ a b "Nagpur Election Results 2019: Nitin Gadkari defeats Congress's Nana Patole". Archived from the original on 1 June 2019. Retrieved 1 June 2019.
  3. ^ "Rajnath steps down, Gadkari takes over as BJP president". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  4. ^ Sultan, Parvez (10 June 2024). "Nitin Gadkari becomes longest-serving minister in same ministry under PM Modi". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  5. ^ "Profile: Nitin Gadkari". BBC News. 23 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 November 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
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  10. ^ Praveen Donthi. "Son of the Sangh Nitin Gadkari's heritage as the RSS's man in reserve". The Caravan. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
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  12. ^ Harish Damodaran (25 November 2018). INDIA'S NEW CAPITALISTS: Caste, Business, and Industry in a Modern Nation. Hachette UK. p. 20. ISBN 9789351952800. Retrieved 25 November 2018. The Mhaiskars are Chitpavan, while Gadkari is a Deshastha Brahmin
  13. ^ a b "Let's Drop Anchor". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 7 May 2016. Retrieved 5 March 2015. In another mail of Friday, July 5, 2013, a detailed plan from Vaibhav Dange is forwarded to the captain by Sunil Bajaj, from Essar Services. This mail lists Nikhil and Sarang Gadkari as contact persons, and lists their mobile numbers. The planner adds, "Everybody is Vegetarian and prefers Asian vegetarian that is Indian Veg, Chinese Veg etc."
  14. ^ "Gadkari loves his food & politics". The Economic Times. Archived from the original on 18 February 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2009. Mr Gadkari is full of ideas about development and food. Had it not been politics, he perhaps could have been one of the best food critics. His stout and rather over-nourished figure though stands testimony to his fondness for food, it actually doesn't tell a complete story. An authority on pure vegetarian and Maharashtrian food, Nitin equally loves to take his friends on culinary trips
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  23. ^ [1] [verification needed] Archived 31 December 2003 at the Wayback Machine
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  41. ^ Mahurkar 2017, p. 120.
  42. ^ Mahurkar 2017, p. 122.
  43. ^ Mahurkar 2017, pp. 121–122.
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