Mumbai : The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is holding an important meeting of its MPs today as speculation grows over a possible new split in the party. Reports suggest that a group of rebel MPs may be planning to join Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena.
The emergency meeting comes a day after reports said that a rebel group had claimed support of six out of nine Lok Sabha MPs of the party. The group had also reportedly contacted Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. This has led to fresh political tension in Maharashtra.
To avoid another split like the 2022 Shinde rebellion, the Uddhav Thackeray faction has called all nine of its MPs to a meeting in Delhi and issued a three-line whip requiring their presence. Party leaders have also warned that any MP who does not attend may face disciplinary action.
The important meeting is expected to decide whether Uddhav Thackeray can keep control of his group of MPs or face another split. This comes four years after Eknath Shinde’s 2022 rebellion, which led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
Adding to the speculation, sources said that a group of rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs had an informal meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday. They reportedly claimed support of six out of the party’s nine MPs, which is the two-thirds mark needed to avoid disqualification under anti-defection rules.
The development took place amid what Shiv Sena sources called a carefully planned “Operation Tiger”, which they allege was overseen by Eknath Shinde during his visit to Delhi. According to these sources, Shinde has now returned to Mumbai and has not made any public comments on the issue.
Sources said the operation was carried out smoothly, but the formal joining of the MPs has been delayed by two to three days to review legal and technical issues. They added that no immediate public announcement will be made, as the party is closely watching the Uddhav Sena’s legal response before moving ahead. According to sources, a formal announcement of any switch is now likely around June 20 or 21.
According to sources, the six MPs have been taken out of Delhi and are being kept away from public view until the legal formalities are completed. The situation has led Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, and Anil Desai to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. They submitted a request asking him not to recognise any “illegal” defection.
Desai said that even if a group has the support of two-thirds of MPs, the law still protects the original party structure. He added that a group cannot simply merge with another party on its own, even with such support. According to him, only the original party has the right to approve a merger if the two-thirds requirement is met. He made these remarks after meeting the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Read Also : Mumbai Bandra Fire Tragedy: 64-Year-Old Man Dies In Atlantic Building Blaze, Two Firefighters Hospitalised
-
-
-
-
