Daijiworld Media Network - Nagpur

Nagpur, Sep 9: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that his vote share in areas associated with Nagpur’s underworld and red-light districts was as high as 92 per cent, while stressing that his association with people from such areas was linked to social work and development activities.

Speaking at the inaugural IIM Nagpur Media Conclave 2026, Gadkari said he had maintained relationships with people across different sections of society.

“I’m very ideological, but 99 per cent of Nagpur’s underworld and social world are my supporters,” he said, while clarifying that this should not be interpreted as support for their activities. He said he had built roads and undertaken social work in those areas.

Gadkari, 69, said his political career had involved dealing with people from different backgrounds.

“I have done everything in politics. I have done good things and bad things, and I have relationships with people across the spectrum,” he said.

The Union Minister also spoke about the voting behaviour of educated citizens, pointing out that many discuss political issues but fail to turn up at polling stations.

“You say, ‘I will come now, I will come later,’ and then 5 pm comes and you don’t come to vote. And then you ask, ‘What will happen to this country?’” he said.

Gadkari said the biggest challenge to democracy was not posed by political parties or political leaders, but by the electorate itself. He stressed that citizens must remain committed to democratic values and participate actively in the electoral process.

“The biggest problem of democracy is not political parties and leaders. It is the people. So, commitment to democracy is important,” Gadkari said.

He urged voters to make informed choices based on social, economic and educational issues instead of caste, religion, sect or language. At the same time, he acknowledged that he had experimented with caste-based politics earlier in his political career.