Rahul Gandhi working towards Gandhi's intention to dissolve Congress: Nitin Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on 23 September took a dig at Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and said that he was working towards realising Mahatma Gandhi's "intention to dissolve" the grand old party after attaining Independence.

AAP's work in Goa will "benefit" BJP during the upcoming Goa elections as they will eat into the vote bank of Congress, claimed Gadkari.

"Mahatma Gandhi had a dream that the Congress should be dissolved after independence. He wanted Congress-Mukt Bharat. There are several of his disciples including Rahul Gandhi and other Congressmen who are now busy fulfilling his dream. The Congressmen in Goa by fighting amongst themselves are also contributing to it," Gadkari said.

The beginning of the fulfilment of Gandhi's dream will happen from Goa during the 2017 Assembly polls (when Congress would be wiped out from the state), he said in presence of Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.

Gadkari, who held a series of meeting with BJP MLAs and workers in Goa, said the emergence of AAP on a political scene is going to benefit BJP.

"I wish AAP all the best. If AAP gets ten votes, they will eat into only two votes of us while eight would be that of Congress. I wish them (AAP) all the possible growth in the state," he said.

Gadkari claimed that several Congress leaders in Goa are desperately trying to join BJP. "There is large scale unhappiness in Congress. Some Goa leaders are trying to get in touch with me," he said.

"(Defence Minister) Manohar Parrikar and Parsekar will take decision on their proposal to join the party," he added. Over the alliance with MGP, Gadkari said the party is all set to renew its alliance with Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (for the next Goa assembly polls), which is a like-minded party and has been a BJP's partner for the last five years.

"We (BJP-MGP) have such a great relation. They are very positive towards forming an alliance. Their ideology is matching ours. The alliance will benefit both the parties," he said. Gadkari said there is no difference of opinion between the BJP and MGP.

"Even if there are small differences, they would be sorted out during the talks," he said, adding Parrikar and Parsekar will further hold talks with MGP leaders to iron out any issues.

--PTI