West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee extended her well wishes to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari after he fainted during an election rally in Maharashtra. “Pray for quick and complete recovery of senior Union Minister and BJP leader Nitin Gadkari,” Banerjee wrote in a post on X, expressing concern over Gadkari’s health.
Gadkari was addressing an election rally in Pusad in the Yavatmal-Washim Lok Sabha constituency when he suddenly collapsed, prompting security personnel to rush him off-stage. The Union minister, however, recovered within a few minutes and managed to complete his speech. He later posted on X, saying, “Felt uneasy due to heat at a rally at Pusad, Maharashtra. But now I am completely alright and on my way to Warud to take part in the next rally.”
The incident triggered Banerjee to voice concern over the ongoing seven-phase election schedule, which extends into June, amid severe heatwave conditions across India. “Electioneering in the scorching heat of this cruel summer is indeed unbearable. Today is 24 April, and, can you imagine, our 7-phase elections will continue till 1st June??!!” Banerjee exclaimed.
Gadkari, a star campaigner for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is among the busiest leaders holding public meetings across the country. He is seeking a third term in Parliament, representing the Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency, which voted in the first phase of general elections on April 19. Despite the incident, Gadkari expressed confidence in his campaign, stating, “I will certainly win the elections by a huge margin,” after casting his vote. He is running against Congress’ Vikas Thakre, the current Nagpur West MLA.
Gadkari’s collapse at the rally highlights the physical challenges faced by political leaders during intensive campaigning. The extended seven-phase election schedule has raised concerns about the health risks for both politicians and voters, given the extreme heat. With the elections continuing until 1st June, there’s a growing call for authorities to ensure safety measures are in place to protect those involved in the democratic process from the harsh weather conditions.
