Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has cautioned the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) against repeating the mistakes that led to the Congress's downfall.
Addressing a BJP executive meeting near Panaji, Goa, Gadkari highlighted the importance of maintaining the party's distinct identity and integrity.
At the meeting, which saw the presence of the state unit president Sadanand Tanavade and Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Gadkari pressed on the need for the BJP to remain a "party with a difference."
This concept, initially articulated by his mentor and former Deputy Prime Minister Lal Krishna Advani, remains central to the party’s ethos.
Gadkari's remarks came in the wake of the BJP's inability to secure a majority in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
He stressed that simply replacing the Congress without offering a substantive alternative would be futile.
"If we continue doing what the Congress used to do, then there is no use of their exit and our entry," Gadkari warned.
He urged party cadres to recognise the transformative potential of politics.
"Politics is an instrument of bringing social and economic reforms," he said, underlining the necessity of creating a corruption-free nation through strategic planning and execution.
Avoiding caste politics
Gadkari also addressed the pernicious issue of caste-based politics, particularly in Maharashtra.
He unequivocally rejected this approach, asserting, "I have decided not to follow this trend. I have told people that I will not indulge in caste-based politics. Jo karega jaat ki baat, usko padegi kaske laath (the one who will speak about caste will get a strong kick)."
He argued that a person's worth should be measured by their values rather than their caste. Gadkari's firm stance against caste politics marks a significant declaration within a state often mired in such practices.
Mahayuti's success in MLC polls
Gadkari's statements coincided with a major victory for the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra's Legislative Council (MLC) elections.
The alliance, which includes Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, and the BJP, achieved a substantial win, recovering from a lacklustre performance in the general elections.
The BJP fielded five candidates, all of whom, including Pankaja Munde, daughter of the late senior leader Gopinath Munde, emerged victorious.
Additionally, the Shinde Sena and Ajit Pawar's NCP each nominated two candidates, all of whom secured their seats.
Strengthening the party for future elections
In his address to the Goa BJP cadres, Gadkari urged them to work diligently to consolidate the party's presence in every constituency.
This effort is crucial to ensuring the party’s success in the 2027 assembly elections.
He encouraged the grassroots workers to focus on organizational strength and community engagement to sustain the BJP's momentum.
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