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Who is Nitin Gadkari?
Education
While being active in student politics, Gadkari completed his post-graduation in commerce, besides studying law and obtaining a diploma in business management from Nagpur University.
A member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he had also held the Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation portfolios in the first term of the Modi government (from September 3, 2017, until the end of the term).
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Gadkari contested from Maharashtra's Nagpur constituency, which he had represented in the previous Lok Sabha as well. From this keenly watched seat, Gadkari won re-election by beating his nearest rival Nana Patole of the Indian National Congress by a margin of 216009 votes. He polled 55.67 of the votes cast in the constituency, compared with Patole's vote share of 37.45 per cent.
Previously, Gadkari also held the positions of Minister for Rural Development from June 4, 2014, to November 9, 2014, Minister for Panchayati Raj from June 4, 2014, to November 9, 2014, and Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation from June 4, 2014, to November 9, 2014.
In the past, Gadkari had drawn a lot of controversy with his comment that "leaders who fail to fulfil promises get 'beaten up' by people". In December, Gadkari had said that leadership should have the tendency to own up to defeat and failures. The remarks had come days after the BJP's loss in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh Assembly polls.
Nitin Gadkari is also an agriculturist. He promoted water management, solar energy projects and the use of modern technology and management tools in agriculture.