Nitin Gadkari takes a jibe at political leaders switching parties

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari made a humble suggestion to politicians, saying that one should stick to an ideology and avoid party-switching "like rats jumping from a sinking ship". Addressing an event on Sunday, Nitin Gadkari said that people in politics should understand the meaning of politics and not confuse it with power politics, giving examples of historic leaders who he said: "never indulged in power politics".

"I feel people in politics should clearly understand the meaning of politics. Politics is not just power politics. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Lokmanya Tilak, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Veer Savarkar did not indulge in power politics. Gandhi ji pursued samajkaran, rashtrakaran and vikaskaran (politics of society, country and development). Don't compromise on principles, and keep patience," Nitin Gadkari said as quoted by news agency PTI. 

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Gadkari's dig at politicians jumping ships

Asserting that he never thought of leaving his party (BJP) even when it faced hardships, the Nagpur MP took a dig at the political leaders who are changing their parties in accordance with power. 

"People run after those who come to power. Today we are in power, they (party-hoppers) will come with us. Tomorrow, if someone else attains power, they will run after them. People just jump like rats from one side to another when a ship starts sinking," Nitin Gadkari added. 

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Politicians switch parties

Notably, Nitin Gadkari's remarks came in the light of an influx of opposition leaders who are jumping ships to BJP or Shiv Sena in the run-up to the Maharashtra Assembly polls, which are likely to take place in September-October this year. Recently, former senior NCP leader Sachin Ahir joined Shiv Sena ahead of the elections in the state. Furthermore, NCP MLA Avadhut Tatkare is also in talks with Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray, speculating rumors about joining the party. Six-time legislator Dilip Sopal, earlier in August, resigned from the Sharad Pawar-led party and joined the Shiv Sena. Several senior leaders from the opposition NCP and Congress have recently joined the ruling BJP and Shiv Sena in the state.

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(With PTI inputs)