MNS MLA will not ditch party

Mumbai: Sharad Sonavane, the lone Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislator from Junnar, stated on Tuesday that he would not desert his party.
“Being the only MNS MLA, the onus is on me to ensure that the voice of the people is heard in the legislature,’’ he said. Sonavane said he had no plans to join either the Bharatiya Janata Party or the Shiv Sena.
Party activists had been discussing the possibility of Sonavane deserting the party to join the Sena.
Sonavane met party chief Raj Thackeray at his residence on Tuesday morning. “Thackeray told me that I must fearlessly raise issues that matter to the public, and ensure that the MNS view is known across the state. I plan to do exactly that. I have no intentions of leaving the party,’’ he said.
Former MNS MLA Pravin Darekar had resigned as general secretary some days back. Darekar, who contested from Magathane, had lost to Prakash Surve (Shiv Sena).