Union Minister Nitin Gadkari declared that he would not be campaigning for himself in the Lok Sabha elections next year, saying “those who will vote, will vote”.
Speaking at the inauguration of three National Highway projects in Maharashtra's Washim, Gadkari said, “For this Lok Sabha election, I have decided that no banners or posters will be put up. Tea won't be offered to people. Those who have to vote will vote and those who do not will not. Neither will I take a bribe nor will I allow anyone. I believe I will honestly be able to serve you all.”
Interestingly, earlier his year, Gadkari had said at a public event that he had once given mutton to voters but still lost the election.
Gadkari has been representing the Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency since 2014. He retained his seat in the 2019 general election.
While the Lok Sabha polls are in 2024, assembly elections in five states—Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Telangana, Mizoram and Chhattisgarh—are due by the end of this year. The polls in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, Sikkim and Jharkhand are likely to be held along with the general elections.
