Setback for MNS: Senior leader Vasant Gite quits all party posts

The Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena suffered a severe jolt with senior leader and former Nashik Central MLA Vasant Gite resigning from all party positions. There are reports that nearly half of the party’s 40 corporators in the Nashik Municipal Corporation are contemplating to quit the MNS.

“Because of my personal and family responsibilities I thenceforth will not be fully able to give justice to the post of general secretary of the party. I therefore request you to relieve me from the post,” Gite said in a letter to party president Raj Thackeray on Monday. Along with Gite, nearly 150 MNS workers, including general secretary Atul Chandak and Nashik district president Sachin Thakre, have also put in their papers.

Though Gite said he was not quitting the party, the BJP claimed he had been in touch with it. “Vasant Gite and over a dozen MNS corporators are interested in joining the BJP. The party will take an informed decision over the inclusion in the few days,” BJP in charge for North Maharashtra Vijay Sane said.

Gite played a major role in the success of MNS in Nashik from where the party won three Assembly seats in 2009.