However, many political pundits here view that Gadkari’s announcement can invite anger from party veterans who were also dreaming of becoming the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Earlier, the party had projected Kalraj Mishra for the said post and then it stood behind Surya Pratap Shahi.

Gadkari is making all his political moves with great precision. He knows that many party senior leaders have no base in the Bundelkhand region and in the western Uttar Pradesh belt where elections for the next three crucial rounds are due. Hence, Gadkari has projected Uma Bharati now to garner the votes from women and from the communities falling under the most-backward categories in order to win as many assembly seats possible in the region.

Addressing the political meets in Bundelkhand region, Gadkari lambasted Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) for completely neglecting the region. He held these parties responsible for the plight of people in Bundelkhand region. “The poor infrastructure that included lack of primary health centers, schools, roads, irrigation facilities, poor power supply in the region with no industry and employment programmes, made the life of people living in this area only miserable. The leaders in the present state government of the BSP were busy in filling their own pockets. They completely ignored the problems of the people hence they have no moral right to remain in power. If the BJP comes to power then under the leadership of Uma Bharati, Bundelkhand will get its due share. The region will get proper power supply, irrigation facilities will be extended to the farmers and the party would look after the overall development of the region,” said Nitin Gadkari.