Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla officially recognised six rebel MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction as members of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Saturday [1].
This decision shifts the balance of power within the split party and significantly diminishes the parliamentary presence of the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray. The move formalises a period of political instability and defection within Maharashtra's political landscape.
The Speaker's approval follows a request from the six MPs to change their party affiliation after joining the Shinde camp [1]. This administrative action increases the total strength of the Shinde-led faction in the Lok Sabha to 13 seats [2].
"The request of the six rebel MPs has been approved," Birla said [1].
The process culminated after a series of meetings in New Delhi. On Friday, Birla had called for a meeting with the leaders to address the deepening split [3]. The decision was finalised today, July 18, 2026 [1].
The defection has drawn criticism from political observers regarding the ethics of party switching. Abu Azmi, president of the Maharashtra SP, said that representatives "should be accountable to voters" [4].
Under parliamentary rules, the Speaker has the authority to recognise mergers or changes in party affiliation when specific criteria are met. The six MPs had sought to merge with the Shinde faction to consolidate their legislative standing. This recognition allows the Shinde camp to claim a larger share of the party's official representation in the lower house [1], [2].
“"The request of the six rebel MPs has been approved"”
The Speaker's recognition of these six MPs effectively legitimises the Shinde faction's dominance over the original Shiv Sena brand in the Lok Sabha. By increasing its strength to 13 seats, the Shinde-led group gains greater leverage in legislative proceedings and further isolates the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), potentially making the latter more dependent on alliances with other opposition parties to maintain influence.
