Photo: X/ Vasant More 

By Sunita

 Former MNS leader Vasant More, who contested the Lok Sabha election on the VBA ticket, met Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray on Monday. Party MP Sanjay Raut was present. More announced his joining of the party.

More said, “I was a branch head of the Shiv Sena. I am returning to the party. Uddhav Thackeray welcomed me back home. He said that I had delayed the decision. Now, I am going to join the party. The remaining discussion will take place later. I will join on July 9 at Matoshree.

“I left the MNS and joined the VBA but voters did not approve of it. The Shiv Sena (UBT) will give a bitter fight to rivals in the civic polls.”

When asked if he would contest the State Assembly election, he said, “Let me enter the party first. A discussion on the topic can be held later. I have two alternatives for the assembly poll. I can contest from the Khadakwasla or Hadapsar Assembly constituencies. My voter base is not in Pune city. So, I did not garner votes there. I still got good votes. A police case was filed against me when I was in the Shiv Sena. I will not change. I will fight for the people and work in their interest.”

Reason behind leaving the MNS Vasant More has been in the limelight since he joined the MNS. He criticised local leaders from his party. He expressed displeasure over party President Raj Thackearay’s agitation against the loudspeakers playing at masjids. 

Later, he was removed as the City Unit Chief of the MNS. Since then his exit from the party was a mere formality. Then he started preparing for the Lok Sabha poll from the Pune Lok Sabha constituency. The MNS did not want to contest the polls and he left the party.