Mumbai: Shiv Sena’s first Paral branch chief and former corporator Vijay Gawkar passed away due to old age. He was 79 years old. He was single. After him brother Dr. Ulhas Gawkar belongs to the family. Gawkar’s body was cremated at Bhoiwada crematorium.
During the formation of Shiv Sena, Gawkar had made great efforts to grow the organization in Lalbagh-Paral. Gawkar was very involved in all kinds of agitations of Shiv Sena. He was elected by the Shiv Sena in the 1968 Mumbai Municipal Elections. Till 1979, he was elected as a corporator twice. He served as Chairman of Health Committee and Member of Education Committee.
Rahul Jaidev Thackeray, grandson of Shiv Sena chief Balasaheb Thackeray, senior Shiv Sainik Sham Deshmukh, former president of Mumbai Marathi Journalists Association Kumar Kadam, Ulhas Bille of Local People’s Rights Committee, Prakash Varadkar of Kshatrakulotpann Maratha Samaj paid their respects to Gawkar. Bitter Shiv Sainiks like Gawkar gave honest support to the Shiv Sena chief, so the organization of Shiv Sena is rooted in the hearts of the masses. Rahul Thackeray said that no matter what happens in politics, the organization of Shiv Sena, which stood on the sacrifice of numerous Shiv Sainiks like Gavkars, will remain strong. Sham Deshmukh and Kumar Kadam told about the hard work done by Gawkar during the early days of Shiv Sena. Many senior Shiv Sainiks from Paral, Shivdi, Lalbagh areas were present on this occasion. MP Arvind Sawant, former corporator Sindhutai Masurkar, Sachin Padwal, kabaddi player Jaya Shetty, Chandrakant Bharti, MLA Kalidas Kolambakar, former MLA Dagdu Sakpal, Baburao Khopde etc paid their last respects to Gawkar.
