Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari Monday stressed the need for a shift towards performance and development-oriented politics, asserting that those who fail to perform often resort to caste and religion-based politics as shortcuts to success.Speaking during a courtesy visit to The Indian Express office in Nagpur for Loksatta Lok Samvad ahead of the upcoming municipal elections, Gadkari said politics must focus on public welfare and development rather than power. “Politics is not about ruling, it is about serving people. Democracy should be driven by performance and development,” he said.“I will not do politics based on caste or religion. People will vote if they feel my work is right; if not, they won’t, and both are acceptable to me,” he said, describing Nagpur as his family.Calling for qualitative change in politics, Gadkari said there are two kinds of politics, politics of conviction and politics of convenience. “I believe in conviction. Whether I get power or not doesn’t matter,” he said.Gadkari said he always evaluates his work from the perspective of what he can do for citizens, adding that development is the public’s primary expectation. However, he noted that development is never complete, as aspirations are natural.“People remember what they did not get more than what they received,” he said, underlining the need to do more continuously.Responding to allegations that concrete development had caused flooding in parts of Nagpur two years ago, Gadkari said a detailed study of the Nag River was conducted after water entered houses. He said encroachments and narrowed river channels were addressed, including widening of the Nag River, clearing obstructions, and resolving the issue.Story continues below this adHe defended the construction of concrete roads, stating that Nagpur’s black soil does not sustain bitumen roads. “If bitumen roads had been constructed, they would have required rebuilding every two years. Concrete roads built over the last 30 years have lasted,” he said. He insisted that Nagpur city is pothole-free.Gadkari also said that the city of Nagpur has not seen drinking water protests in the last 10 years. He highlighted major water infrastructure upgrades, including expanding the Kanhan water supply to 175 MLD and upgrading machinery.He said there is no water scarcity in Nagpur, with 350–400 MLD of recycled water being supplied to power projects at Koradi and Khaparkheda.Urban transport initiativesOn urban transport and environment, Gadkari said Nagpur’s vehicles will gradually shift to compressed natural gas (CNG), with 160 new CNG pumps planned across the city.Story continues below this ad“All city buses will be electric within the next two years,” he said. He also spoke about investments in medical colleges, educational institutions, AIIMS, allotment of land to Narsee Monjee Institute (KG to PG), and ongoing Metro work.On industry and mobility, Gadkari said India must aim to become the global leader in the automobile sector, where it currently ranks third. He stressed the need to focus on alternative fuels. “Automobile industry will make India truly self-reliant (atmanirbhar),” he said.Gadkari said ecology and environment remain priorities for him. “We (under the current administration, the party) transplant even 100-year-old trees instead of cutting them, develop world-class ecology parks, plant new saplings, and work on water purification, waste management and treatment of polluted water. We are also pushing for a shift to cleaner fuels, yet we are labelled anti-environment. Those opposing these projects should also reflect on how many trees they have planted and extend cooperation.”“What is the point of opposing something only on paper or in books? I firmly believe in protecting ecology and the environment. I want a garbage-free, clean and pollution-free system, and I stand by this commitment completely.”Story continues below this ad“There should be no politics of revenge, no need to mock or seek retribution. In any democracy, wishing harm upon others is never right. But democracy rests on four pillars: the media, the judiciary, and the legislature. Together, we must strengthen democracy. This responsibility does not belong to one institution alone; it belongs to everyone,” Gadkari said.Gadkari concluded by saying that there are no differences between the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the BJP.