In the earlier stages of his career he was considered close to the Maharashtra-based RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh (RSS), the Hindu nationalist organisation and ideological parent of the BJP.
BBC: Profile: Nitin Gadkari
2.
It quotes him as saying that many of those involved in the bombings were members of RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh (RSS) - the right-wing parent organisation of India's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.
BBC: Swami Aseemanand
3.
Adding to the confusion, the party also has a president, Nitin Gatkari, pushed into his job by a powerful Hindu-revivalist group, the RashtriyaSwayamsevakSangh, or RSS, who prance about in khaki shorts.