Gadkari rules out resignation, says he is 'honest'

Amid demands from some party leaders that he should step down in the wake of allegations of dubious fundings of his companies, BJP president Nitin Gadkari today said he is an "honest man" and ruled out resigning from his post.

"I am an honest man, I will not resign," the BJP president said in reply to a question at the two-day programme 'Agenda-Aaj Tak' organised by TV Today network here.

Gadkari's present tenure as party chief ends this month.

BJP leaders Ram Jethmalani and Yashwant Sinha have come out in the open to demand that Gadkari should resign immediately as the charges against him were denting the party's fight against corruption in the Congress-led UPA government.

Maintaining that he is not a businessman but a social entrepreneur, Gadkari said none of the allegations levelled against him have been proved.

"I am not scared of anyone... Media can't pass any judgement against me... Media trial is unacceptable and there is not a single case lodged against me," the BJP chief said.

Replying to question on his tenure as a Minister in the Maharashtra government, Gadkari denied that he had given favours to any particular company.

"I have not favoured any company during my stint as Maharashta PWD minister," he said.

Asked about his party's prospects in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Gadkari said the BJP-led NDA will form the government and many parties will join the coalition once the 175 mark is crossed.

"NDA will form the government at the centre after general elections in 2014. We are confident of the outcome... Once BJP crosses the 175 mark in 2014 polls, many parties will back us," Gadkari said, adding that his party will prove all the calculations of the UPA wrong during the polls.

In reply to a question over his party's Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2014 general elections, Gadkari said that there are many leaders within the party who are PM material.

"There are many leaders within BJP who are PM material...

We will announce the PM candidate at the right time. BJP is a democratic party and decisions are taken collectively," he said.

Gadkari refuted suggestions that decisions within his party were taken by RSS. "It is absolutely wrong to say that RSS takes decisions on behalf of BJP," he said.

He also termed Congress-led UPA government responsible for the present poor economic situation in the country.