Mumbai, Jan 9: In a surprise development, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) legislator Harshwardhan Jadhav resigned from the house, saying he had been sidelined in the party.
"I have quit as legislator and sent my resignation to Speaker Dilip Walse-Patil," the legislator from Kanad in Auragabad told the media here, jolting the party.
Reportedly unhappy with the party leadership, Jadhav said "a coterie around the party leadership influenced decisions".
"I have been subjected to abusive language and sidelined in important decision making process. The party has been working against me and joining hands with my political opponents," Jadhav said.
However, he said he would not join any other political party but contest the next elections independently.
With Jadhav's exit, the strength of the MNS, which won 13 seats in the 2009 elections, has come down to 11. One legislator, Ramesh Wanjale from Pune, expired last year.
