I don’t aspire to be PM, says Gadkari

Mumbai: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday that he did not aspire to be the Prime Minister and was “content” with what he had achieved.

Asked about the BJP’s strained relations with its allies — the Telugu Desam Party, the Shiv Sena and the Akali Dal — and if he could emerge as a consensus candidate if his party failed to get the required numbers in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he said the BJP would retain power under Narendra Modi’s leadership.

“I am contented and not dreaming of becoming the Prime Minister. I am confident that the party has elected Modi and under his leadership alone we will fight and win the 2019 election,” he said at the India Today Conclave here.

“I don’t see such dreams. I work as per my aukaad and haisiyat (status and capacity),” Mr. Gadkari, who holds Transport and Shipping portfolio, said.