Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray’s “offer” of leaving the BJP and joining the opposition was “immature and ridiculous”.
Gadkari, who is well-respected across the political spectrum, said there was no need for Uddhav Thackeray to worry about BJP leaders, PTI reported. “The suggestion of Uddhav Thackeray is immature and ridiculous. There is a system of giving tickets to candidates in BJP,” the Nagpur MP said.
Gadkari’s reaction comes after Uddhav Thackeray, speaking at a rally in Maharashtra’s Yavatmal on Tuesday, said Nitin Gadkari’s name was missing from BJP’s first list of candidates even though it featured Congress turncoat Kripashankar Singh, who was once targeted by the saffron party over corruption.
“I told Gadkari this two days ago, and I am repeating it again. If you are being insulted, leave the BJP and join the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). We will ensure your victory. We will make you a minister when our government comes to power, and it will be a post with powers,” Thackeray said.
Gadkari said the discussion on distribution of tickets in Maharashtra for the Lok Sabha elections was still ongoing.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis also hit out at Thackeray over the “offer” to Gadkari, saying it was like a “man in the street offering someone to make US president”.
“Gadkari is a prominent leader of the BJP, but the first list did not have names from Maharashtra as seat-sharing discussions between the BJP and its allies were not complete,” Fadnavis had said.