Donald Trump Responsible for Maharashtra Road Works Delay, Increased Alcohol Consumption, Says BJP’s Sujay Vikhe Patil (Video)

BJP leader and former Lok Sabha MP Sujay Vikhe Patil has linked delays in the construction of the Ahilyanagar-Manmad Road in Maharashtra to global disruptions that he attributed to US President Donald Trump’s policies. He said the shortage and rising cost of bitumen had created technical and logistical problems for contractors working on the road project.

Vikhe Patil also made an unusual reference to alcohol consumption while criticising Trump's handling of the US-Iran conflict. "Due to the confusion caused by Trump's actions, the amount of alcohol consumed by certain people has increased," he said. Donald Trump’s 60-Day Iran Deadline Expires: Here’s Where Things Stand on War, Nuclear Talks and Hormuz.

Donald Trump Responsible for Road Works Delay: Sujay Vikhe Patil

What Sujay Vikhe Patil Said About Donald Trump

Speaking about the road project and the difficulties faced by contractors, Vikhe Patil took a sharp dig at Trump. "I swear to God, I have never seen such a crazy person in my entire life. In the morning he says stop, in the evening he drops bombs again... It is better for us not to get involved with that man," the BJP leader said, NDTV reported.

He argued that uncertainty surrounding the international situation had affected the availability and cost of materials used in road construction. "Today, due to the unavailability of tar, the contractor has to transport it from Delhi by vehicle. The cost has increased by two-and-a-half times, and approvals are needed for the escalated costs as well. These are technical issues... The troubles you face are the same troubles I face," he said, referring to the Ahilyanagar-Manmad Road project in Ahilyanagar. Iran ‘Won Militarily and Politically’ in US-Israel War, Claims Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf.

Vikhe Patil also questioned whether contractors were consulted before military decisions were taken, arguing that such decisions could have consequences for businesses and infrastructure projects.

How The Road Project Is Linked To Bitumen Shortage

Vikhe Patil's argument centres on the availability and price of bitumen, a petroleum-refining product widely used in road construction. The US-Iran conflict and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz have affected global energy markets. A prolonged disruption to crude oil supplies can affect the production and pricing of petroleum products, including bitumen.

Vikhe Patil claimed contractors working on the Maharashtra road project were being forced to transport bitumen from Delhi by truck, substantially increasing costs. He said a road that would previously cost around INR 5 could now cost 2.5 times more, requiring fresh approval for the revised expenditure.

The remarks link a global geopolitical development to a local infrastructure project, although the extent to which Trump's policies specifically caused the road project's material shortage was not independently established in the information provided.

‘The Troubles You Face Are The Same Troubles I Face’

Vikhe Patil also acknowledged the difficulties faced by residents because of the incomplete road. He said he personally encounters the same problems while travelling between Loni and Ahilyanagar and stressed that the road work needs to be completed.

According to him, there is no alternative to completing the existing project despite the challenges being faced by the contractor. The BJP leader said removing the existing contractor would not help complete the road and maintained that the project should continue.

Vikhe Patil also appealed to residents not to resort to violence against workers involved in the road project. Referring to an incident in Rahuri, he said contractor workers were allegedly beaten at night while carrying out work on side gutters. He said the incident had made employees reluctant to work in the area, potentially creating another obstacle for the project.

‘If Anyone Can Complete This Road...’

Vikhe Patil acknowledged that his comments could attract trolling but defended his position on the road project. He maintained that the road would not be completed if the existing contractor were removed.

He also asserted that “if anyone can complete this road, it is only Sujay Vikhe Patil." The comments have drawn attention because of the unusual comparison between an international conflict involving Trump and delays affecting a local road project in Maharashtra.

Trump, Iran Conflict And Global Energy Supply

The wider backdrop to Vikhe Patil's remarks is the disruption to global energy supplies amid the US-Iran conflict. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical route for global oil shipments, and disruptions there can put pressure on crude supplies and petroleum prices.

Iran has also said its military doctrine is shifting from a defensive posture towards an offensive one, with its armed forces preparing to adopt "transformative approaches" and take necessary action at the appropriate time, according to Iranian Fars News Agency.

Al Jazeera reported that the shift marked a significant transformation in Iran's military strategic doctrine and warned Tehran's adversaries to "anticipate strategic surprises." Against this backdrop, Vikhe Patil used the international situation to explain what he described as the technical and logistical difficulties affecting the Ahilyanagar-Manmad Road project.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 17, 2026 08:03 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).