Mumbai, Aug 20: Senior BJP leader and former Maharashtra Minister Vijay Girkar was today elected president of the party's Mumbai unit and said shortly afterwards his goal would be to ensure victory of the maximum number of BJP candidate in the crucial election to the assembly and Lok Sabha from the metropolis next year. "Sending maximum number of BJP MPs and MLAs from here in the next year's elections will be my prime target", Girkar told a news agency shortly after his election. Girkar, who succeeds Vinod Tawde, is a known Dalit worker of the party, and his election assumes significance in the wake of Shiv Sena's concerted effort to woo Dalits through its "Shiv Shakti and Bhim Shakti" campaign and Congress elevating Sushilkumar Shinde to the post of the Chief Minister, the first Dalit to hold the coveted post. "I have been associated with the Dalit movement since my college days and it will definitely help me take the party to this section of the society", he said.

Asked about his elevation as the city party chief, Girkar said it would boost the morale of the party's common workers as one among them has been chosen for the job.

The BJP leader said he would work for providing basic amenities for slum dwellers. "My aim is to make Mumbai a beautiful and green city", he said.
Bureau Report