Nitin Gadkari is an Indian politician and former President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Mr Gadkari was appointed to head BJP in December 2009 after the party suffered a defeat in the general elections earlier that year. He is also known for the works during his tenure as a Public Works Department Minister in the state of Maharashta when he constructed a series of roads, highways and flyovers across the state including the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai--Pune Expressway.