Why does speculation persist that Nitin Gadkari, Union minister for road transport & highways, shipping and water resources, river development & Ganga rejuvenation, could be the one to replace Narendra Modi as prime minister, if the BJP’s tally in the 2019 Lok Sabha election is low? He has denied this time and again, but every now and then a tweet or statement surfaces that is attributed to him and casts the leadership in a poor light. The latest is a supposed observation by him that the top party and government leaders should take responsibility for the state election debacle.