NAGPUR: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari sparked widespread political discussion after disclosing that he received significantly higher voting percentages in areas identified with criminal backgrounds, the underworld, and red-light pockets than in affluent, highly educated localities during parliamentary elections.
Speaking at a public event in Nagpur, the Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader shared voting statistics from his electoral experience in the Nagpur constituency. Gadkari stated that while upscale and educated residential sectors yielded him roughly 70% to 75% of the total votes, the support soared to 92% in underprivileged areas, criminal-dominated belts, and red-light districts.
Clarifying his statement to prevent misinterpretation, Gadkari stressed that high support from these localities does not imply personal ties or endorsement of unlawful activities. Instead, he attributed the overwhelming vote share strictly to unbiased infrastructure development and public service projects carried out in those neighborhoods.
"It should not be misunderstood that I have personal affiliations with illegal elements or that I endorse their actions," Gadkari said. He explained that extensive road construction, sanitation projects, and basic infrastructure development in those marginalized areas built trust among residents, prompting them to vote beyond partisan lines.
Gadkari highlighted that effective governance and tangible development cross socio-economic barriers, proving that voters in neglected neighborhoods respond strongly to visible civic improvements.
