Nitin Gadkari is an admired face in Indian politics, hailing from Nagpur. He is now serving as the Minister of Transport and Highways in Narendra Modi`s Cabinet, after National Democratic Alliance (NDA) victory in 2014 General election in India. After the demise of Gopinath Munde, in a Delhi road accident, on 3rd June 2014, Nitin Gadkri took the position of the Minister of Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, Drinking Water and Sanitation as an additional charge. In 2014 general election, Nitin Gadkari contested successfully from Nagpur constituency and won by defeating the Aam Admi Party (AAP) leader Anjali Damania. She is the convener of Maharashtra state unit of Aam Admi Party (AAP), and a Director of a West India based real estate firm.
Early Life of Nitin Gadkari
Nitin Gadkari was born on 27th May 1956, who is now in Bharatiya Janata Party`s Central Cabinet in 16th Lok Sabha and the member from Nagpur Constituency. Nitin Gadkari was born in Nagpur. He hails to a middle class Hindu Brahmin family from Nagpur district. Nitin Gadkari was appointed to head Bharatiya Janata Party in December 2009 after Bharatiya Janata Party suffered a defeat in Indian General Elections earlier that same year.
Nitin Gadkari, a 57 years old veteran BJP leader, belongs from western India, is well known for the works during his tenure as a Public Works Department Minister in the state of Maharashtra when he constructed a series of roads, highways and flyovers across the state including the Yashwantrao Balwantrao Chavan Mumbai- Pune Expressway.
Political Career of Nitin Gadkari
Nitin Gadkari from the very early age, he worked with diligence for the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha and the student union Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Later, Nitin Gadkari served as the Minister of Public Works Department (PWD) of the Government of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999. At that time, he restructured it from top to bottom. He has served as the BJP unit of Maharashtra and later he became the President of BJP in Maharashra wing. Nitin Gadkari served second term as the President of Bhartiya Janta Party in Maharashtra. But he resigned from the post on 22nd January 2013, due to irregularities in the firm Purti Group promoted by him.
Rise to Fame
Nitin Gadkari`s views for social development have much similarity with Narendra Modi`s Viewpoint. Nitin Gadkari has a strong support for privatization instead of nationalisation, when he campaigned for investment in the infrastructure areas from private companies. He addressed several meetings between private investors, contractors, builders and various trade organizations and diverted large amounts of budgeted projects towards privatization.
The Union Government of India in the year 2000 appointed him as the Chairman of National Rural Road Development Committee. After a series of meetings and studies, Nitin Gadkari submitted his report to the Central Government headed by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and gave the presentation to the Prime Minister of India. His report was accepted and a new rural road connecting scheme was introduced all over India, now popularly known as Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a nationwide plan in India to provide good all-weather road connectivity to villages of India which are socially, politically and economically backward.
Nitin Gadkari served with determination and perseverance in different political and governmental posts in India. He was the Ex-Minister under the BJP lead government of Maharashtra, President, Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtra State, Ex-Leader of Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Council, Former Minister for Public Works Department, Maharashtra State, Member of Legislative Council, Maharashtra State, Minister for Public Works under Maharashtra Government, Ex-Member of the High Power Committee for Privatisation, Government of Maharashtra, Ex-Chairman, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation, Ex-Guardian Minister for Nagpur District, Government of Maharashtra, Ex-Chairman, Mining policy Implementation Committee, Government of Maharashtra, Ex-Chairman, Metropolis Beautification Committee, Govt. of Maharashtra, Ex-Leader of Opposition, Maharashtra Legislative Council, Chairman National Rural Road Development Committee, Chairman, Review Committee of Central Public Works Department (CPWD), Government of India, State President of Bhartiya Janata Party, Maharashtra, National President of Bharatiya Janata Party. Later after the huge victory in Indian General Election in the year 2014, conducted by Election Commission of India, he became the Minister of Transport and Highways. As he has a strong support in privatisation, he also enlightened as the Chairman of Purti Group of Companies.
Personal Life of Nitin Gadkari
Nitin Gadkari is married to Kanchan Gadkari. The couple have three children; Nikhil, Sarang and Ketki.