Ahead of counting of votes, RSS leader meets Nitin Gadkari

Gadkari said the meeting was a courtesy call and refused to speak more on the matter.

Amid euphoria in the ruling NDA after the exit poll predictions for the BJP and its coalition, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) general secretary Bhaiyyaji Joshi met union minister for transport and shipping Nitin Gadkari at his Ramnagar residence on Monday morning.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari interact with media during an event in Nagpur on May 20, 2019. (Photo by Sunny Shende/ HT) (HT)

Joshi reached at Gadkari’s residence at 11.30 am and stayed there till 1.00 pm. He held a closed-door meeting with Gadkari and later had lunch with him, sources close to the minister informed.

The counting of votes will take place on May 23.

However, almost all exit polls in the country showed that the BJP and its allies will get absolute majority, some even predicted that the NDA would cross 300 seats.

Gadkari, who is considered close to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, has earlier blamed the media for ‘twisting’ his comments to suggest that he had differences with the prime minister. “I am happy with my current assignment. I have never aspired or asked for more,” the minister said.

Gadkari said the meeting was a courtesy call and refused to speak more on the matter.