‘Those with more TRPs will get good returns in ads’: Nitin Gadkari on poll bonds

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Nagpur:

Expressing confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s target of 370 seats, BJP leader Nitin Gadkari said that on top of the current 288 seats , the additional seats will come from the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in southern India.

In an extensive interview with news agency PTI at his residence in Nagpur, Gadkari said there was “no doubt” that the BJP-led NDA would cross 400 seats and Narendra Modi would take over as prime minister. He was awarded a third term because of the solid work the government has done over the past decade.

He dismissed accusations that the Modi government was “weaponizing” central investigative agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation to weaken the opposition, and said the BJP’s rivals should work hard to win the trust of the people and overcome adversity.

Mr Gadkari, who is seeking a third term in Lok Sabha from Nagpur, said: “Is it our responsibility to make the opposition weak or strong? When we had only two MPs and were weak, we never No package was ever given out of compassion.”

Mr Gadkari launched his campaign with a massive roadshow in Nagpur on Saturday, his motorcade moving slowly amid a sea of ​​supporters who braved 40C temperatures to welcome the arrival. A local hero. The show, which was scheduled to last two hours, ended after four hours with supporters covering him with gulal and insisting on providing him with snacks every time he stopped.

Gadkari said that the strength of the PPP over the years was due to the hard work of its workers, and the opposition must also work hard to win the trust of the people.

“The nature of democracy is constant change. Whatever your role, you have to work hard and overcome adversity. That’s important for any opposition party,” he said.

He was also asked to explain the calculation of 370 seats for the BJP and over 400 seats for the National Democratic Alliance as they were already full in their stronghold states.

“There is no need for a national level analysis. This time, we will taste success in the south. The work we have done in the south and northeast under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi over the past 10 years… We’re starting to get the same results,” he said.

“We are working hard in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. We have very little presence in these states. This time we will be in Telangana Andhra Pradesh is doing well. We are doing well in north India as well. So, I think the BJP will get 370 seats and the NDA will get over 400 seats,” Mr. Gadkari said.

The senior BJP leader said the people of the country want to see development and have full confidence in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, which will be reflected in the elections.

Asked about claims in some quarters that the BJP would not be able to secure a majority, leading to a possible contest for the prime ministership, Mr Gadkari responded fiercely: “Not at all!”

“We are absolutely confident that we will get an absolute majority and we will cross the 400 mark and Narendra Modi will become the prime minister of the country for a third consecutive term. There is no doubt about it in my mind,” he explain.

When asked about his personal agenda for the 2025 centenary celebrations of the RSS, the ideological fount of the BJP, Gadkari said his “personal agenda” was only for the constituency that elected him.

“I don’t have any personal agenda. The RSS will make its agenda clear. Whatever their expectations are, it is our responsibility to fulfill them,” he said.

He was also asked whether there was a lack of level playing field in the elections due to the arrest of opposition leaders, including Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and income tax notices amounting to Rs. The Congress party has Rs 3,500 crore.

The Union minister said the law was “taking its own course” and the BJP or the government had nothing to do with it.

“We ourselves have not taken any action. A case has been registered in accordance with the law. This has nothing to do with the BJP or Modi. These agencies are still fulfilling their responsibilities,” Gadkari said.

The senior BJP leader dismissed the opposition’s allegations that the government was weaponizing the education ministry, IBI and the income tax department, which are taking action in cases related to opposition leaders.

“This is completely wrong. We will not weaponize anyone. The law has its own course. Now, if Rs 300-400 crore is found in anyone’s house, people will see it. Then there will be an investigation .If someone has done wrong, action has been taken. If someone is dissatisfied, they have the option to approach the courts,” he said.

Mr Gadkari also dismissed the uproar over revelations of electoral bond donations and said it was natural for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party to get a major share in donations.

“Even in TV media, those who have higher TRPs get good prices in advertisements. Those who have less TRPs get advertisements at lower prices. Today, we are the ruling party, so we get more donations. If any other party comes to power tomorrow, it will get more donations,” he said.

Gadkari said the reality is that every political party needs money and needs to find legal ways to raise resources.

“I don’t want to say anything because the matter is pending. All political parties should come together after the Supreme Court’s opinion. In some countries, the government funds political parties. We will have to look for some options and that’s what I Feelings,” he said.

Gadkari said there was no substance to the opposition’s claim that the BJP was indulging in “washing machine politics” – if opposition figures agreed to join the party, they would be exempted from corruption charges.

“There is no such thing. The law has its own lines. Agencies work based on the evidence they collect. The allegation is completely false and baseless. No such work happened,” he said in response to the opposition charge that the BJP is A “great washing machine”.

On the RBI’s clean sheet issued to NCP leader Praful Patel in the Air India corruption case, Gadkari said the action had nothing to do with the BJP or the Prime Minister.

“Let’s investigate the truth,” he said.

Mr Gadkari recalled what late former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee said when asked about any suggestions for the revival of the opposition: “Be true to the ideology and principles of the party. “Remarks.

“Difference of opinion is necessary for democracy. But the real problem is no opinion. (Today in our country, difference of opinion is also necessary for democracy. There is no problem. Difference of opinion is our problem.) ) No matter which party you belong to and its ideology, whether you win or lose, the important thing is to support it with conviction.”

“I remember when I entered politics against the Emergency and started working with Jaiprakash Ji, the conditions were not favorable for us. But we continued to work under unfavorable conditions and one day Atal Bihari Vajpa India became prime minister. Today, Modi rules India. Mr Gadkari said: “The country has been struggling for the past ten years. Of course, the people give you a chance, but you have to be patient and work hard. “

Mr Gadkari, who won the 2019 elections by a margin of more than 2 lakh seats, said he was aiming to win by a margin of 5 lakh seats this time. He said he was confident of getting minority and Dalit votes this time. Opposing him is the Congress Party’s Vikas Thakre, a former mayor of Nagpur who also has good grassroots connections with the people.

The BJP alone won 303 seats in the 2019 elections, but in the outgoing Lok Sabha, it currently has 288 seats. This comes after a number of lawmakers lost elections and resigned after recently entering state parliament.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)