‘I won’t quit MNS, will raise party’s voice in Assembly’

Sonawane further said, “I will not quit MNS. I will continue to work hard for the party. Being the only MLA of MNS, I will raise the voice of my party strongly in the state assembly.” Sonawane won from the Junnar constituency in Pune by defeating his long time rival Ashatai Buchke of the Shiv Sena by a considerable margin. However, Sonawane was not in the MNS since its formation. He was with the Shiv Sena for a long time. He was the district vice-president of Shiv Sena and sought a ticket for Assembly elections in 2009. But the Sena denied him a ticket and fielded Asha Buchke instead.

Sources from political parties said Sonawane also had differences with Shiv Sena MP Shivajirao Adhalrao Patil. Apparently, he lost interest in Shiv Sena and joined MNS ahead of the Lok Sabha polls this year.

For the Assembly polls he contested on the MNS ticket and emerged as the only party candidate who managed to win. Sonawane will apparently be the party leader of MNS in the House. Sonawane got 60,305 votes, while Buchke managed only 43382. After winning, Sonawane had said he dedicated his victory to Raj Thackeray and people of Junnar. Local residents from Junnar say that Sonawane gained support because of his organising skills and social work in the region.