Gadkari, Munde come together

Over the past decade, the BJP rarely got opportunities to celebrate. But Saturday was different. Elated party workers gathered on the streets to welcome their leaders, the president Nitin Gadkari and deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Gopinath Munde, reports HT Correspondent.

Over the past decade, the BJP rarely got opportunities to celebrate.

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But Saturday was different. Elated party workers gathered on the streets to welcome their leaders, the president Nitin Gadkari and deputy leader in Lok Sabha, Gopinath Munde.

The enthusiasm could be seen as a ray of hope for the party that lost the state assembly polls but managed to win more seats than its ally, the Shiv Sena. The leaders exhorted state unit to work harder and perform better next time.

What’s more, Gadkari and Munde, seen as two separate power centres in the state BJP, buried the hatchet and pledged to work together. As a balancing act, the party made Munde deputy to Lok Sabha Opposition leader Sushma Swaraj after it placed Gadkari at the helm a week ago.

“The party has given us responsibility to expand it and win next general and assembly elections. And let me assure that we will together work in achieving the goals in such a way that everyone will remember us,” Gadkari said.

Munde responded saying that he will continue to unmask the Congress in the Lok Sabha. “At same time, Nitin will strengthen the party all over and I will be with him all the time.”

Gadkari shared his success with the workers. “We were ridiculed when we had two MPs but it was your hard work and sacrifice that saw us make the government. We still have better numbers in the Lok Sabha.”

Gadkari told journalists that he was happy to have support from all senior leaders. “I’m blessed. The other day I requested all seniors to help me resolve a serious issue. They did promptly and asked me not to hesitate in asking them for help.”

An overwhelmed Gadkari said a small worker like him could become party’s president in a political set-up like the BJP. “That’s why we are a party with a difference.”