NEW DELHI, Apr 24: The union and senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari fainted while speaking at an election rally but recovered soon with prompt treatment and returned to the dais to complete his speech.
Mr Gadkari was addressing the rally at Pusad in Yavatmal district in Maharashtra when he fainted. The security personnel accompanying him carried him off-stage. The minister, however, recovered after a few minutes and completed his speech.
Shortly after completing his speech, Mr Gadkari posted on X, “I felt discomfort due to the heat at the rally in Pusad, Maharashtra. But now I am completely healthy, and am leaving for Varud to attend the next meeting. Thank you for your love and good wishes.”
A disturbing video of the incident – which was streamed live on X, including by his own account, showed Mr Gadkari being carried away by those on stage, many of whom rushed to form a shield around the BJP leader to give him, and those treating him, some privacy.
Mr Gadkari – who fought the first phase of the Lok Sabha election as the candidate from Nagpur, a seat he won in 2014 and 2019 – was campaigning for Rajashree Patil, who is from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction of the Shiv Sena and is the ruling Mahayuti alliance’s pick for Yavatmal-Washim.
In the second phase of polling – on April 26 – eight seats in the eastern part of Maharashtra will vote, including Amravati, Hingoli, Nanded, and Yavatmal-Washim.
(Manas Dasgupta)
