Confident of BJP doing well in assembly polls: Gadkari

Confident of BJP doing well in the upcoming five assembly polls, Union Minister and senior party leader Nitin Gadkari today played down the coming together of the Samajwadi Party and the Congress for the crucial UP elections, saying it is "natural for the weak to join hands against the strong".
Gadkari, who is here to attend the World Economic Forum annual meeting, also exuded confidence that the demonetisation move of the government has sent across the right message to the poor of the country that increased revenue will help boost investment in social security schemes.
"I feel we will get good success in these five states," Gadkari told PTI in an interview here on the sidelines of the WEF meeting.

On whether the tie-up between the SP and the Congress in UP will make it difficult for BJP, he said every party fights election with an expectation to win it and it is a law of nature that weak parties come together against the party which is strong.
"I think the way message has gone to the poor after note ban and because of the work done by our government, the poor, farmers, labourers and people in our villages will support the BJP without thinking about caste, religion and language," he added.
On whether demonetisation's impact on SMEs will affect BJP's poll prospects, he said, "Let me say one thing. There were difficulties that people faced. In the initial days, the difficulties were more and started coming done thereafter.

"Now, just about 10 per cent of problem is left and everything would normalise in the next one and half months. Growth rate would go up and the markets will go up."

Elections are coming up in Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur.
Gadkari, who is Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, further said banks have got 30 per cent more deposits because of which lending will go up.
"Interest rates have gone down by about one per cent and will further go down. Employment potential will also go up and the government's tax revenue will rise because everything is coming to digital economy and the black money has come into the mainstream.

"I think the increased revenue for the government will result in more investments in social security schemes and the poor will benefit from it," he added.