BJP can never be 'Narendra Modi or Amit Shah's party': Nitin Gadkari

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday denied allegations levelled by the opposition parties that the BJP has become "Modi-centric", saying the saffron party can never be an "individual-centric" party as it is based on ideology.

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari addresses a press conference at BJP headquarters. Photo: PTI (File)

Lok Sabha elections 2019: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday denied allegations levelled by the opposition parties that the BJP has become "Modi-centric", saying the saffron party can never be an "individual-centric" party as it is based on ideology. "BJP neither became Atal or Advaniji's party in the past, nor it can ever be only Amit Shah or Narendra Modi's party," the former BJP president said in an interview to PTI. Stressing "BJP is a party based on ideology," Gadkari said it is wrong to say that "BJP has become Modi-centric." When asked whether the BJP has become 'Modi is BJP and BJP is Modi' on the lines of 'Indira is India and India is Indira' slogan given by then Congress president D K Barooah during the emergency in 1976, Gadkari said, the party can never be "individual-centric". "BJP as a party can never be individual-centric. It is an ideology-based party. There can be no 'family-rule' in the BJP. It is a wrong notion that the party has become Modi-centric. Party's parliamentary board takes all the decisions," he said. He reasoned that the party and its leader are complementary to each other. "Elections cannot be won if party is strong but its leader is weak ... same can be said if a leader is strong and the party is weak ... But yes, a popular leader does come at the forefront naturally, " Gadkari stressed. He, however, said the BJP and Prime Minister Modi are "complementary to each other." On being asked that some pollsters are predicting a fractured mandate, the Union minister for Road Transport & Highways said the BJP will form the government after the polls. "BJP will get more seats than the last polls and NDA constituents will also increase their seats, hence the party will form the government." The seven-phase Lok Sabha elections started on April 11 and would conclude on May 19. Counting of votes will take place on May 23. So far, voting has been completed for five of the seven phases. Polling was held on Monday for 51 Lok Sabha seats spread across seven states in the fifth phase. In the first four phases, election was held to 91, 96, 117 and 72 seats on April 11, April 18, April 23, April 29 respectively. Polling for the sixth phase will be held on May 12. (With inputs from PTI)