Mumbai
-Ashish Rana
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faces another major test, with six of its Lok Sabha MPs expected to publicly explain their position amid speculation of a fresh split in the party. The group is likely to address a press conference in Delhi and place on record the reasons behind its reported move away from the Thackeray-led camp.
Six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs, including Sanjay Jadhav, are expected to explain their stance in Delhi amid speculation of a party split, citing alleged ideological shifts away from Uddhav Thackeray’s camp and potentially facing anti-defection law scrutiny.
The development is politically significant because the Shiv Sena (UBT) was itself born out of the 2022 rebellion led by Eknath Shinde. That revolt cost Uddhav Thackeray control of the original Shiv Sena name and symbol. A second rupture, this time among MPs, could further weaken his parliamentary presence and sharpen the ruling alliance’s advantage in Maharashtra.
Six Shiv Sena UBT MPs likely to present their case
The MPs named in reports are Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Sanjay Dina Patil. They are expected to release photographs, videos and a letter linked to their meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Their argument, according to reports, centres on an alleged shift in the Thackeray camp’s ideological position.
The group is believed to have reached Delhi from different locations around June 16. Some reports said the MPs stayed at a hotel in Noida before meeting the Speaker. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his son, MP Shrikant Shinde, were also reported to be in Delhi around the same time, adding to speculation about the rebels’ next step.
The press interaction is expected to be crucial because the MPs are likely to frame their decision as a collective position rather than an individual act of defection. That distinction matters in Parliament, where anti-defection rules can affect membership if a lawmaker is seen as voluntarily giving up party affiliation or voting against the party whip.
Why the anti-defection question matters
The rebel MPs have reportedly told the Speaker that their stand should not attract disqualification under the anti-defection law. Their claim appears to rest on the argument that they are not merely leaving the party individually, but representing a larger internal split caused by ideological differences. The Thackeray camp is expected to contest that interpretation.
Under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, lawmakers can face disqualification if they voluntarily give up membership of their party or defy its directions in the legislature. The legal and procedural outcome often depends on the facts placed before the presiding officer, the party’s complaint, and how the conduct of the lawmakers is assessed.
This is why the timing and presentation of the MPs’ move appear carefully planned. Reports suggest the rebel group has avoided sharing a public stage with Eknath Shinde at the Shiv Sena Foundation Day event. Such caution may be aimed at reducing the risk of being portrayed as having already joined another party.
For Uddhav Thackeray, the immediate challenge is not only numerical. It is also political messaging. If the MPs formally claim that the Thackeray leadership has moved away from its original ideological line, the dispute will echo the arguments used by the Shinde faction during the 2022 split.
UBT camp issues notices, weighs next move
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has already issued show-cause notices to the MPs over their reported absence from a parliamentary party meeting. The party is also expected to consider seeking action against them in Parliament. Such a move would shift the battle from political accusation to a formal process before the Speaker.
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, a close aide of Uddhav Thackeray, has sought to downplay the scale of the rebellion. He reportedly said some absent MPs had joined the meeting virtually and that communication with the leadership was still open. However, those remarks have not ended the uncertainty around the group’s future.
The controversy deepened after Sanjay Jadhav was seen meeting Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav, who is associated with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Jadhav described the meeting as non-political, but in the current climate, the interaction was read by rivals and observers as another sign of growing distance from the UBT leadership.
The episode has also revived talk of “Operation Tiger”, a phrase being used in political circles for an alleged effort to draw Shiv Sena (UBT) lawmakers towards the Shinde camp. The speculation gained ground after several MPs were absent from a meeting at Matoshree, Uddhav Thackeray’s Mumbai residence.
What another split could mean for Maharashtra politics
The Shiv Sena (UBT) currently has a limited Lok Sabha presence, and the loss of six MPs would be a serious setback. It would reduce the party’s bargaining power within the opposition bloc and weaken Uddhav Thackeray’s claim to command loyalty across the Sena’s old organisational base.
For Eknath Shinde, any formal shift by UBT MPs would strengthen the narrative that his faction represents the larger Shiv Sena stream. It would also help consolidate his position within Maharashtra’s ruling coalition, where the Bharatiya Janata Party remains the dominant partner and Ajit Pawar’s Nationalist Congress Party faction is another key player.
The next steps will depend on what the MPs say publicly, what documents they submit, and how the Thackeray camp responds procedurally. Until the Speaker takes a view, the dispute will remain both political and technical. But the immediate message is clear: the battle for the Shiv Sena’s legacy is not over.
