The performance of the UPA government, led by Manmohan Singh, had been dismal, he alleged at a party rally in Kangra district.
"The government has miserably failed to control the sky-rocketing prices, On the other hand, it has hiked the prices of petroleum products 17 times during the past eight years," Gadkari said.
The country's economy had collapsed and the slide in the value of rupee in comparison to dollar had halted foreign investment, he said.
Referring to 2G spectrum, Commonwealth Games and other scams during the UPA rule, he said the present dispensation had failed to curb corruption.
The BJP chief said it was unfortunate that foodgrains worth Rs 58,000 crore had rotten last year and farmers were committing suicide.
Gadkari praised the BJP-led government in Himachal Pradesh saying it had scaled new heights under the leadership of Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal.
He hoped the party would return to power in the state in the upcoming assembly election.
Dhumal said the BJP would fight the assembly election on the plank of development which was visible everywhere in the state.
BJP vice-president Shanta Kumar described the UPA government as the "most corrupt and inefficient."
