Nagpur/Bhandara: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has called former BJP MP Nana Patole as ‘most arrogant and egoistic’ person he had ever met. Gadkari was addressing an election meeting at Bhandara for the May 28 Lok Sabha by-poll being held for Gondia-Bhandara seat. “This by-poll was forced on people by Nana Patole who resigned from BJP and Lok Sabha. Patole is arrogant and egoistic person. BJP will not only ensure his defeat in this by-poll but will finish him politically from Sakoli area. We will win this Lok Sabha by-election over development issue and not by caste politics,” the Union Minister declared.
Gadkari was addressing election meeting at Railway Ground in Bhandara for party candidate Hemant Patle. The meeting was also attended by Union Minister Ramdas Athawale and Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
In Bhandara-Gondia, the competition is between BJP’s Hemant Patle and NCP’s Madhukar Kukde supported by the Congress. The seat fell vacant after BJP MP Nana Patole resigned and later joined Congress. Voting will be held there on Monday, May 28, which has been declared a holiday in both the districts. The by-election was forced because of resignation from Lok Sabha by Nana Patole who was elected in 2014 on a BJP ticket.
Gadkari further said, “As Transport Minister since the past four years, 14-lane highways were built first time in the country. For ensuring overall development of Bhandara district, efforts are being made to start Bhandara-Nagpur Metro Rail. The Congress rule has made the condition of farmers miserable. The previous government did nothing for farmers. On the other hand, our government launched various schemes for welfare of farmers. A factory producing ethanol from tanas is being set up as part of welfare schemes for farmers,” Gadkari said.