‘I have never spent a night in Delhi before’

For someone who has never “spent a night in Delhi”, elevation to the post of BJP president is a “unique feeling” for Nitin Gadkari. In a brief chat with Nistula Hebbar he talks about his new job and his pet subject, the Mumbai-Pune expressway
 
Did you ever dream that you would be president of the BJP?
I am someone who has never spent a night in Delhi, and now to come here as the party’s national president is a unique feeling.
 
What are the main challenges you face?
I feel that where there is a will there is a way. Like when we proposed the Mumbai-Pune expressway, someone asked me how much the project would cost and how much time it would take. I replied that it would take Rs2,000 crore and over two years to build. He asked how much money I have now, and I said only Rs5 crore. But I make no false promises, no false commitments. One has to make up one’s mind to get things done.
 
There is a widespread belief that you have been chosen by the RSS for the job?
The first person who sounded me out on the matter was L K Advaniji who called me up a couple of months ago and asked me if I was ready for something like this. The next person who called me was Rajnath Singhji. I believe therefore that these two people were the ones who selected me for the post. That is all I have to say.
 
Having never worked at the Centre, you have suddenly been catapulted to this top post. How do you take it?
Politics for me is an instrument of social and economic reform. I feel that raj karan should become samaj karan. Having said that, my elevation only demonstrates the democratic nature of the party, where someone who is engaged in a small way can be selected and brought to such a top post. Unlike other parties where one party president literally gives birth to the next party president.  One should appreciate the democratic ethos of the BJP.