He spends more time in Nagpur than Delhi

In another move which strengthened the criticism that he was still fixated with his home state Maharashtra, BJP president Nitin Gadkari on Sunday hoisted the national flag in Nagpur instead of the party headquarters here.

Gadkari, who has himself admitted on several occasions that he is new to national politics, has often been criticised for spending less time in Delhi and more in Nagpur, where he is based.

On the first Independence Day celebrations on Sunday since he took over as BJP president, Gadkari hoisted the national flag at the local BJP office in Nagpur.

Party sources said it was perhaps the first time in the last 25 years that a BJP president had not hoisted the national tricolour at 11, Ashoka Road, on August 15.

Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, former Uttarakhand chief minister and now Rajya Sabha MP, unfurled the flag at the BJP headquarters on Sunday. Incidentally, his official residence is adjacent to the office.