Nitin Gadkari Denies Political Retirement After Trust Leadership Remarks

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari clarified that recent remarks regarding his inability to maintain a heavy workload were related to a private trust and not his political career. Speaking at an event in Nagpur on Sunday, Gadkari stated that work must be handed over to the new generation while the older generation acts as a guiding hand.

The comments triggered widespread social media and media speculation that Gadkari intended to retire from active politics or was being removed from the Union cabinet. This speculation coincided with reports that the Narendra Modi government was reviewing minister performance reports in preparation for a major cabinet reshuffle to induct younger leaders.

Gadkari's office issued a series of clarifications, asserting that the remarks were taken out of context. The office explained that the minister was speaking specifically about the leadership transition of the Laxmanrao Mankar Trust, an organization he founded to operate Ekal Vidyalayas in tribal areas. The comments were made during a change-of-guard ceremony where Atul Shirodkar assumed the role of president of the trust.