While the Shiv Sena has stated its intention of voting against the BJP in the floor test, Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena said it would back the BJP. Sharad Sonawane, the lone MNS candidate from Junnar in Pune, said he would back the BJP in government formation. Mr. Sonawane, who joined the MNS only this year, became the sole candidate to bag a seat for his party.
“As per my leader, Raj Thackeray’s decision, I have decided to support the BJP,” said Mr. Sonawane, adding that the decision was reached after meeting Mr. Thackeray at the latter’s residence ‘Krishnakunj’ in Mumbai.
In the recently concluded Assembly polls, Mr. Sonawane trounced the Sena’s Ashatai Buchke by a margin of nearly 17,000 votes.
Mr. Sonawane, who was earlier the district vice-president of the Shiv Sena, was denied a ticket in the last assembly elections when the Sena fielded Buchke as its candidate from Junnar. A disappointed Sonawane quit the Sena to join the MNS earlier this year.
