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Business Standard
26-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Work, not vote bank: Why Gadkari won't let elections dictate development
At a time when much of government decision-making seems moulded around election cycles, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari says he refuses to play that game. In a recent interview with Business Standard, the senior BJP leader emphasised that his approach to governance is not shaped by the prospect of votes but by merit-based policy and long-term national interest. 'I didn't keep targets keeping elections in mind,' Gadkari said. 'My value system didn't allow me to think about elections while working.' Why Nitin Gadkari says governance shouldn't be timed to elections While such declarations are not uncommon in politics, they are rarely seen in practice. It is routine for governments to front-load schemes — subsidies, handouts, or infrastructure projects — just ahead of elections to maximise voter goodwill. In this context, Gadkari said his indifference to electoral timing stood out. In a candid chat with Business Standard, Gadkari shared why politics shouldn't come in the way of policy, claiming to have told constituents to vote for him only if they were satisfied with his work; otherwise, not at all. 'I told people in my constituency that if they were happy with my work, they should vote for me. If they weren't, it was alright. I would still work for them. This didn't come from a place of arrogance — I was humble,' he said. 'Think from century to century', not five-year terms The three-time Member of Parliament also quoted the late Dattopant Thengadi, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ideologue from Vidarbha: 'Every politician thinks about his next election for five years, but every socio-economic reformer and nation builder thinks from century to century.' For Gadkari, infrastructure — particularly road building — is not just a logistical pursuit, but a transformational one. His target of building 100 km of roads a day was, by his own admission, 'almost impossible', but he insisted on chasing it. As vote-bank politics rises, Nitin Gadkari chooses long-term goals National parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party and Congress, have frequently been accused of offering pre-election handouts or 'freebies' to sway voters. This includes announcements ranging from welfare schemes to infrastructure investments. Ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) made cleaning the Yamuna a key poll promise — its first time giving the issue central importance, despite past political deadlock between the state and central governments. The BJP countered with schemes like the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, offering ₹2,500 per month to women — ₹400 more than AAP's offer. In the 2025 Budget, Bihar, set to go to polls later this year, received significant attention, including ₹59,000 crore for roads, power, and flood management, in addition to multiple new projects. Assam, which holds Assembly elections in 2026, was the only other state mentioned in the Budget speech, with a new 1.27 million-tonne urea plant announced for Namrup. ALSO READ | Builder, not a campaigner: Nitin Gadkari on his role In the midst of this, Gadkari wants to be seen as a builder, not a campaigner, with a long-term vision. He said he told voters to re-elect him only if they thought he had done a good job. However, he acknowledged, 'I could work only because people voted for me', while also stating that governance should not be reduced to a vote-gathering exercise. That stance, of course, is also politically useful. In a landscape where cynicism about political motives runs deep, presenting oneself as above the fray can serve as a powerful brand. Genuine or not, the approach has worked. Gadkari still leads a key ministry, builds roads at a record pace, and champions merit. 'We were trying to make our policies better and straighten out issues so that execution of projects was faster,' Gadkari stated.
Hans India
01-06-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Rekha Govt celebrates 100 Days as 'Seva Utsav'
New Delhi: To mark the completion of 100 days in office, the BJP-led Delhi government organised a public program titled "100 din Seva ke" at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Saturday. The event, attended by citizens from across the city, was headlined by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and actor Anupam Kher, who together outlined the achievements of the new administration since taking office. During her address, Chief Minister Gupta detailed the initiatives rolled out across sectors including healthcare, education, women's welfare, pollution control, and urban development. She emphasized that her government is focused on delivering tangible improvements in the lives of Delhi's residents. In the healthcare sector, Gupta criticized the previous administration for not implementing the Ayushman Bharat Yojana in Delhi. She stated that her government approved the central health scheme in its very first cabinet meeting, allocating ₹13,000 crore to provide free medical treatment up to ₹10 lakh per person. Within the first 100 days, over 650 people had benefited from the scheme, with 80 hospitals already enrolled. Highlighting the need for better healthcare infrastructure, Gupta noted that while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends two hospital beds per 1,000 people, Delhi currently has only 0.42. She committed to increasing this to three beds per 1,000 people and acknowledged severe staffing shortages, including a 20% deficit in doctors, 30% in nurses, and 40% in paramedical staff. She also pointed out that corruption and a lack of medicines plagued the health system earlier, but improvements are underway. Addressing urban poverty, the Chief Minister spoke about the neglect faced by slum dwellers. She accused past governments of treating these residents as mere vote banks, failing to provide basic amenities such as drinking water, sewer lines, and toilets. She assured the public that her government would not demolish slums, but rather improve livingstandards. She announced a ₹750 crore budget to bring proper sanitation and water infrastructure to slum areas, reaffirming that "Delhi runs because of these people" and they deserve dignity and basic facilities. Gupta also emphasized her administration's focus on women's welfare. She said many women were inspired to see her as Chief Minister and that her government is committed to addressing their concerns, including safety, dignity, financial independence, and childcare. Security measures have been ramped up with the installation of CCTV cameras at key intersections and street lighting in previously dark areas. Along with this, preparations have been made to open 500 crèches where working women will be able to keep their children safe. As part of the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, the government has allocated ₹51,00 crore to provide a monthly assistance of ₹2,500 to eligible women. Gupta said that six planning meetings have already been held for the scheme and efforts are ongoing to ensure that all eligible women benefit. However, she did not disclose when the disbursement of funds would begin. In the field of education, Gupta acknowledged that while Delhi has 1,071 government schools and 1,650 private schools, most parents prefer the latter due to the poor state of public institutions. She pledged a comprehensive revamp of government schools, introducing smart classrooms, computer and technical education, andopening 1,000 libraries specifically for government school students. Additionally, language learning centers will be launched to broaden students' skills. She pointed out that earlier, private schools would hike fees without scrutiny, but now measures are being put in place to regulate and improve the education system. The government is also preparing students for competitive exams by offering scholarships and additional resources. New Delhi:The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has launched a scathing critique of the BJP-led administration, accusing it of inaction and attempting to take credit for projects initiated during AAP's tenure. AAP's Delhi state president Saurabh Bhardwaj alleged that the BJP government has failed to implement any new initiatives over the past three months. Instead, he claimed, it has focused on rebranding existing schemes and infrastructure built by the AAP government. Bhardwaj specifically criticized the BJP over the Mohalla Clinics, a flagship health initiative of the AAP. He claimed that the BJP is attempting to repaint and rename these clinics as 'Ayushman Arogya Mandirs,' an effort he described as a deceptive public relations move. 'Putting up posters and banners does not equal governance. The people of Delhi are well aware of who has actually worked for them,' Bhardwaj said. New Delhi:In a significant move to bolster public transport infrastructure, the Delhi government has announced plans to deploy 2,080 new electric buses by the end of 2025. However, the ambitious target comes at a time when the capital is grappling with an acute shortage of operational buses, leading to mounting pressure on commuters and the existing public transport system. On May 2, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta flagged off 400 nine-meter-long electric mini-buses under the newly launched 'Devi' scheme. These buses are currently being operated on shorter routes—many of which were previously underserved. The chief minister reiterated the government's commitment to rolling out the full fleet of 2,080 electric buses within the year. Despite the progress, the absence of 12-meter-long standard electric buses from city roads has raised concerns over the feasibility of meeting the year-end deadline. Adding to the challenge, around 1,500 buses operating under the cluster scheme have already been withdrawn, exacerbating the shortage and leading to overcrowded bus stops across the city. © 2025 All Rights Reserved. Powered by Summit
India Gazette
31-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Police detains AAP workers protesting against Delhi government on Mahila Samman Yojana
New Delhi [India], May 31 (ANI): Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers were detained by the Delhi police for protesting against the BJP-led Delhi government over the issue of Mahila Samridhi Yojana 2025. Earlier, on March 8, Union Minister and BJP president JP Nadda launched the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, a direct cash transfer scheme for Delhi's women on March 8. Addressing a public event on the occasion of International Women's Day in the national capital, Nadda said that the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, to give Rs 2500 to women in Delhi, has been approved today. Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Delhi Government, led by CM Rekha Gupta, celebrated the completion of 100 days of its government in the national capital. CM Gupta participated in the '100 Din Seva Ke' program on the occasion. The Delhi CM tore into her predecessor, saying that they had claimed to be common people who became greedy for power, while her government was working on the streets among the people. 'When the movement started from Ramlila Maidan, thousands and lakhs of people joined it, I joined too, others also supported it, thinking something better would happen in Delhi and the country. Those people who used to say that they are not greedy for power became so greedy that they could not see anything except cabinet, our MLAs, all the public representatives continuously work on the streets among the people...' The Delhi CM also criticised the previous AAP government for questioning the valour of the Armed Forces. The Delhi CM tore into her predecessor, saying that they had claimed to be common people who became greedy for power, while her government was working on the streets among the people. 'When the movement started from Ramlila Maidan, thousands and lakhs of people joined it, I joined too, others also supported it, thinking something better would happen in Delhi and the country. Those people who used to say that they are not greedy for power became so greedy that they could not see anything except cabinet, our MLAs, all the public representatives continuously work on the streets among the people...' (ANI)
Time of India
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Police detains AAP workers protesting against Delhi government on Mahila Samman Yojana
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers were detained by the Delhi police for protesting against the BJP-led Delhi government over the issue of Mahila Samridhi Yojana 2025. Earlier, on March 8, Union Minister and BJP president JP Nadda launched the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, a direct cash transfer scheme for Delhi's women on March 8. Addressing a public event on the occasion of International Women's Day in the national capital, Nadda said that the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, to give Rs 2500 to women in Delhi, has been approved today. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Empresas de Salvador reduzem custos agora [Saiba mais] Sistema TMS embarcador Saiba Mais Undo Meanwhile, earlier in the day, the Delhi Government, led by CM Rekha Gupta , celebrated the completion of 100 days of its government in the national capital. CM Gupta participated in the '100 Din Seva Ke' program on the occasion. The Delhi CM tore into her predecessor, saying that they had claimed to be common people who became greedy for power, while her government was working on the streets among the people. Live Events "When the movement started from Ramlila Maidan, thousands and lakhs of people joined it, I joined too, others also supported it, thinking something better would happen in Delhi and the country. Those people who used to say that they are not greedy for power became so greedy that they could not see anything except cabinet, our MLAs, all the public representatives continuously work on the streets among the people..." The Delhi CM also criticised the previous AAP government for questioning the valour of the Armed Forces. The Delhi CM tore into her predecessor, saying that they had claimed to be common people who became greedy for power, while her government was working on the streets among the people. "When the movement started from Ramlila Maidan, thousands and lakhs of people joined it, I joined too, others also supported it, thinking something better would happen in Delhi and the country. Those people who used to say that they are not greedy for power became so greedy that they could not see anything except cabinet, our MLAs, all the public representatives continuously work on the streets among the people..."
Hindustan Times
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Significant progress' made towards Mahila Samridhi Yojana: Delhi CM
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Delhi government has made 'significant progress' on its plan to provide ₹2,500 in monthly financial aid to women under the Mahila Samridhi Yojana, chief minister Rekha Gupta said on Friday. Speaking to HT at the Secretariat, on the sidelines of the press conference. Guptasaid her government is preparing a comprehensive, 'fool-proof' policy to ensure poor women receive sustained support. While reiterating that the scheme will target economically disadvantaged women, Gupta did not disclose the specific eligibility criteria. 'We have held meetings and are working on a detailed framework,' she said. 'The BJP had promised during the elections that poor women would receive ₹2,500 every month, and we are committed to delivering that.' The Mahila Samridhi Yojana was one of the BJP's marquee promises during the 2025 Delhi assembly elections, pitched as a key welfare initiative to empower women and provide them with financial stability. The pledge resonated strongly in the party's campaign, helping the BJP secure crucial support across working-class neighbourhoods and informal settlements in Delhi. On March 8, the Delhi cabinet approved ₹5,100 crore as the annual outlay for the scheme. Though funds have been earmarked, the rollout is still pending as the policy is being finalised. Gupta said the scheme would be launched 'soon' and would reach 'every eligible woman' in the Capital. Gupta, who completed 100 days in office on Friday, released a report card at the Delhi Secretariat detailing her administration's early achievements. Of the 22-page booklet, two pages are dedicated to the women's aid scheme, featuring a large image of the chief minister interacting warmly with a group of women. At the press conference marking the occasion, Gupta addressed questions on the scheme's status. 'These 100 days were not enough to implement a scheme of this magnitude,' she said. 'It's not a one-time payout—it's a recurring monthly support programme. We want to ensure that not a single eligible sister is excluded.' To that end, the Delhi government has constituted a group of ministers to finalise eligibility parameters. The ministers, however, did not share further details about their deliberations or the criteria under consideration. Govt rolls out hi-tech mobile forensic labs Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta and Home minister Ashish Sood on Friday flagged off a state-of-the-art Mobile Forensic Science Lab Van from the Delhi Secretariat with the aim to strengthen, sharpen, and enhance the efficiency of the city's criminal justice system. CM said the vans will bring both transparency and speed to the judicial processes in the city. 'Our government is consistently working to provide fast, transparent, and reliable services to the public through the use of technology. With these vans, expert teams will be able to reach crime scenes promptly and collect scientific evidence in cases such as murder, theft, fraud, and cybercrime,' CM said. Home minister Ashish Sood said the vans will reach the crime scene quickly and help in accurate investigation of digital evidence. 'This is an effective initiative towards making Delhi a smart and safe capital,' said Sood.
