Modi, Shah, Fadnavis actively worked to defeat Gadkari in Nagpur, claims Raut

The allegation made by the Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) that top Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and Maharashtra BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis actively worked to defeat veteran BJP leader Nitin Gadkari in the Nagpur Lok Sabha contest has drawn jeers not only from the ruling BJP, but also irked the Congress party, the Sena (UBT)‘s ally in the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition.

Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Sanjay Raut, in the party mouthpiece Saamana, claimed that Mr. Fadnavis, who is Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, threw “large sums of money” to ensure Mr. Gadkari’s ‘defeat’.

“To ensure Gadkari’s defeat in Nagpur, Modi, Shah and Fadnavis came together and made attempts. When it became evident Mr. Gadkari was not going to get defeated, Mr. Fadnavis had no option but to campaign for him,” Mr. Raut alleged.