PANJIM: Announcing that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) will fight the 2017 polls in alliance, BJP national leader and Goa desk in-charge Nitin Gadkar expressed hope to resolve difference with the rebel RSS faction led by Subhash Velingkar.
“We fought the last Assembly elections (2012) in alliance with MGP, we both hold strong relations. I personally too have relations with MGP leaders, our alliance will remain intact,” Gadkari told media persons on Friday. He said that Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar and State unit President Vinay Tendulkar will hold alliance and seat-sharing talks with MGP.
“We have no differences. When two parties form an alliance, there are also discussions and demands on seats. It is a common election issue. We respect each other’s views and demands,” Gadkari said claiming that MGP on several occasion has approached him seeking an alliance.
“Together we have a very bright political future,” the Union Minister said, adding, “Sometime I feel Dhavalikar (Sudin) is a BJP leader.”
Speaking on the rebel RSS faction and whether this will harm BJP in the coming elections, Gadkari maintained that BJP votes are intact and there is no question of any division of votes. “BJP will not be impacted, I have told this to my party workers also,” he said.
“There is some difference of opinion with him (Velingkar) over policy decision. They (rebel RSS leaders) are our people. We will be able to discuss with them and convince them, I am sure,” Gadkari said.
BJP senior leader said RSS never fights elections and Sangh office bearers never participate in elections. “If they want to participate in politics, they have to step down from the Sangh post. This is a tradition of the Sangh,” he said.
Without naming Velingkar, Gadkari said, “Some people who have decided to participate in politics, have worked for the State as office bearer and also in the social field. We respect them. We will be successful in convincing the section,” he said.
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Modi, Parrikar to campaign for Goa polls
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and several other senior BJP leaders will campaign for the party ahead of the 2017 elections.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that as the BJP is going for polls in Goa, their senior leaders will campaign here including the Prime Minister. Modi will be on two day visit next month to participate in the BRICS summit.
“Who is AAP or Congress to tell us what we should eat or drink or who should campaign in Goa or who should not,” Gadkari said reacting to criticism on Parrikar’s frequent visits to Goa, compromising on national security.
