Sonawane has good experience in research, teaching and administration. He has been a college teacher for 28 years and principal of various colleges for over 15 years. Sonawane is at present the head of the department of chemistry and principal of the K K Wagh College of Arts, Science and Commerce at Pimpalgaon Baswant in Nashik.

Sonawane succeeds B D Chaure who demitted the office of the pro-vice-chancellor, University of Pune on March 24. Sonawane's term in the office will be co-terminus with the vice-chancellor.

Cong suspends agitation
The state wide `Jail Bharo' agitation planned by the Congress party on June 20 to protest against the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance government has been temporarily suspended, due to ``unavoidable circumstances.''

According to an official communique issued by Virendra Kirad, general secretary of the Congress city unit, the agitation has been suspended following orders from Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Ranjit Deshmukh.

The city Congress unit, which had made elaborate preparations for the agitation, received a message on Thursday morning from Gurunath Kulkarni, state general secretary, communicating the directives of the MPCC chief to suspend the planned agitation. The agitation was suspended due to ``unavoidable circumstances,'' according to local Congress officials.