New Delhi, June 21: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said the work done over the past 11 years under the Narendra Modi-led government was “just the news reel,” while the “real film” was yet to begin, hinting at a larger role in the future, possibly in the context of the 2029 general elections.
“Abhi tak jo hua hai woh to news reel thi. Asli film shuru hona aur baaki hai (What has happened so far was merely a news reel; the actual film is yet to begin),” Gadkari said in an interview with Uday Nirgudkar, during a discussion on the achievements of the Modi government since 2014.
The senior BJP leader, who holds the road transport and highways portfolio, said that the party decides the role of every functionary and he would continue to work in whatever capacity it assigns to him. “I have never published my political bio-data or asked supporters to organise grand airport welcomes for me,” he added.
Gadkari, who hails from Nagpur in Maharashtra, reiterated his personal desire to work on ending farmer suicides in Vidarbha. “These days, I work more on agriculture and social causes than I do on roads,” he said, underlining his long-standing concern for rural distress in his home region.
He also weighed in on the country’s economic progress, arguing that India’s population growth was a major hurdle to higher per capita income. “This is not a religious or linguistic issue. This is an economic issue. Despite so much development, its benefits are not visible because of the rising population,” he said, backing the need for a population control law.
Asked about Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sudhakar Badgujar’s recent defection to the BJP, Gadkari distanced himself from the development, saying, “I don’t know him. I’ve never even met him.”
The minister highlighted the Modi government’s achievements over the past decade, noting that despite challenges, infrastructure development, including highways and logistics, had significantly advanced under the Centre’s leadership.
While Gadkari remained non-committal on his potential 2029 election role, his metaphor of the “real film” yet to come has sparked political curiosity about what role he might play in the BJP’s future strategy.
