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NAGPUR: CM Eknath Shinde said Union minister Nitin Gadkari was the “favourite minister” of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackery, during his stint in the state govt in 90s. Joining Gadkari on Sunday evening during the former’s campaign trail, Shinde said it was Balasaheb who gave Gadkari the popular nickname ‘Roadkari’.
Gadkari was the PWD minister in the 90s, when Shiv Sena-BJP alliance first came to power in Maharashtra.
“I want to tell you that Gadkari was the most favourite among all ministers, of our Balasaheb Thackeray. Due to Gadkari’s work in building infrastructure, Balasaheb named him ‘roadkari’. When he built flyovers in Mumbai, he was called ‘pool’ (bridge)-kari’,” said Shinde. He added that Gadkari will win the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat with a record margin. Gadkari’s campaign yatra was passing through South-West Nagpur assembly constituency, which is represented by deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Earlier in the day, Shinde met with Sena office bearers, apart from addressing a select group of doctors and entrepreneurs in separate events.
During his interaction with doctors, Shinde jibed at former CM Uddhav Thackeray without naming him. “I am not a doctor but I did major operations in the last couple of years. I have taken out belts (support belts) from the necks of many people,” said Shinde. Thackeray had undergone surgery while he was CM, and was seen wearing a neck support belt back then.
But CM Shinde’s visit to Nagpur clearly seemed to be about placating former Shiv Sena MP Krupal Tumane, who was denied ticket from Ramtek constituency, to ensure that his party’s official candidate Raju Parve does not face internal headwinds in polls. At three separate public events in Nagpur on Sunday, CM Shinde heaped praises on Tumane and promised his supporters a ‘bigger role’ to compensate for the lost opportunity of a hattrick from Ramtek Lok Sabha seat.
“I won’t rest till Tumane is given a bigger role than Lok Sabha MP,” said Shinde while addressing a gathering of Sena party workers. His statement seemed to have the desired effect as Tumane supporters in the crowd responded with a loud applause.
Shinde played to the gallery, further praising Tumane saying “It’s not easy to give up a claim for a seat. We know what people do for local body poll tickets, and here we are talking about Lok Sabha.” The CM said despite being a two-time MP, Tumane sacrificed his seat claim for the party.
“That’s why today I presented a shawl to Tumane,” said Shinde, “he has promised me that our party’s candidate Parwe will make it past the victory line. Tumane has guaranteed that Parwe will get his full support.”
This comes as a big relief to Parwe, who joined Sena earlier this month from Congress after being guaranteed a ticket for Ramtek seat. Parwe had won the 2019 assembly polls from Umred, which is part of Ramtek constituency. His entry had led to discontent among Tumane’s supporters apart from BJP workers, who were seeking the seat for themselves.
Now with Shinde publicly placating Tumane, Parwe can breathe easy at least from his own party’s side.
While speaking with his party cadres, Shinde urged them to think from a national point of view when it came to polls. “Our task is to ensure the victory of Narendra Modi and once again make him PM of India. The seat tally has to cross 400 in Lok Sabha,” said Shinde.
Gadkari was the PWD minister in the 90s, when Shiv Sena-BJP alliance first came to power in Maharashtra.
“I want to tell you that Gadkari was the most favourite among all ministers, of our Balasaheb Thackeray. Due to Gadkari’s work in building infrastructure, Balasaheb named him ‘roadkari’. When he built flyovers in Mumbai, he was called ‘pool’ (bridge)-kari’,” said Shinde. He added that Gadkari will win the Nagpur Lok Sabha seat with a record margin. Gadkari’s campaign yatra was passing through South-West Nagpur assembly constituency, which is represented by deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis.
Earlier in the day, Shinde met with Sena office bearers, apart from addressing a select group of doctors and entrepreneurs in separate events.
During his interaction with doctors, Shinde jibed at former CM Uddhav Thackeray without naming him. “I am not a doctor but I did major operations in the last couple of years. I have taken out belts (support belts) from the necks of many people,” said Shinde. Thackeray had undergone surgery while he was CM, and was seen wearing a neck support belt back then.
But CM Shinde’s visit to Nagpur clearly seemed to be about placating former Shiv Sena MP Krupal Tumane, who was denied ticket from Ramtek constituency, to ensure that his party’s official candidate Raju Parve does not face internal headwinds in polls. At three separate public events in Nagpur on Sunday, CM Shinde heaped praises on Tumane and promised his supporters a ‘bigger role’ to compensate for the lost opportunity of a hattrick from Ramtek Lok Sabha seat.
“I won’t rest till Tumane is given a bigger role than Lok Sabha MP,” said Shinde while addressing a gathering of Sena party workers. His statement seemed to have the desired effect as Tumane supporters in the crowd responded with a loud applause.
Shinde played to the gallery, further praising Tumane saying “It’s not easy to give up a claim for a seat. We know what people do for local body poll tickets, and here we are talking about Lok Sabha.” The CM said despite being a two-time MP, Tumane sacrificed his seat claim for the party.
“That’s why today I presented a shawl to Tumane,” said Shinde, “he has promised me that our party’s candidate Parwe will make it past the victory line. Tumane has guaranteed that Parwe will get his full support.”
This comes as a big relief to Parwe, who joined Sena earlier this month from Congress after being guaranteed a ticket for Ramtek seat. Parwe had won the 2019 assembly polls from Umred, which is part of Ramtek constituency. His entry had led to discontent among Tumane’s supporters apart from BJP workers, who were seeking the seat for themselves.
Now with Shinde publicly placating Tumane, Parwe can breathe easy at least from his own party’s side.
While speaking with his party cadres, Shinde urged them to think from a national point of view when it came to polls. “Our task is to ensure the victory of Narendra Modi and once again make him PM of India. The seat tally has to cross 400 in Lok Sabha,” said Shinde.
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