A planned meeting between Eknath Shinde and rebel MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) at Shrikant Shinde’s Delhi residence was called off on June 16, 2024 [1].
The potential defection of these lawmakers threatens the stability of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction during a critical period of political realignment in Maharashtra.
Reports indicate that six [2] to seven [3] of the nine [2] MPs elected in 2024 from the Shiv Sena (UBT) are prepared to defect. This movement is reportedly timed to occur before the Shiv Sena foundation day on June 19, 2024 [4].
Despite the initial plans for a gathering in Delhi, sources indicate the meeting was canceled to ensure proper party protocol was followed. A senior party source said, "The rebel MPs will first have to submit a formal letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla before any further steps" [3].
An unnamed source said, "We have called off the meeting at Shrikant Shinde’s Delhi residence for now" [5]. The requirement to notify the Speaker is a mandatory step before the MPs can formally defect or attempt to form a separate group in the Lok Sabha [6].
Political analysts suggest the move is part of a broader effort to consolidate power within the ruling Sena faction. The shift would significantly reduce the legislative influence of the UBT wing in the lower house of Parliament.
“"Six out of nine UBT MPs elected in 2024 are prepared to defect"”
This development signals a potential collapse of the Shiv Sena (UBT) representation in the Lok Sabha. By requiring a formal letter to Speaker Om Birla, the process adheres to anti-defection norms, but the scale of the reported rebellion—potentially involving a majority of the party's MPs—could leave Uddhav Thackeray with minimal leverage in national legislative affairs.
