Fadnavis, Gadkari play cloak and dagger game

Nagpur:  Maharashtra BJP president Devendra Fadnavis, who is considered front-runner to lead the state as first chief minister of the saffron party, on Thursday met Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at the latter's residence here in Nagpur.

As per reports,  the visit was a courtesy call by Fadnavis to extend Diwali greetings to the senior BJP leader at his residence in Mahal area of the city.

The two leaders spent about half-an-hour together, they said. However, what transpired between the two leaders could not be immediately known.

Notably, BJP MLAs from Vidarbha region and senior party leader Sudhir Mungantiwar have been pitching for Gadkari for state's chief ministership.

However, Gadkari had earlier clarified his stand not to return to state politics and said it was for the party's central leadership to decide and he will accept any responsibility given to him.

Leader of Opposition in state Legislative Council, Vinod Tawde had yesterday said there was no race and no competition for the top post.

The legislature party will sit and decide it leader. The Central Parliamentary Board will then confirm that person as the leader who will be the Chief Minister, Tawde had said.

However, Gadkari reiterated that he was not in the race for the post of Maharashtra chief minister.

"I have already (made it clear that) I am interested in remaining in Delhi," Gadkari told the media after the meet.

His comments come amid reports that a section of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators in Maharashtra want Gadkari as the chief minister.

Gadkari's name was floated by former minister Sudhir Mungantiwar. The BJP is the single largest party with 122 legislators in the 288-seat assembly.