Milind Deora, a Rajya Sabha MP for the Shiv Sena (UBT), said the party led by Uddhav Thackeray functions like a monarchy.
This critique comes as speculation grows regarding a potential fresh split within the party in Maharashtra. Such instability could shift the political balance of the state if high-ranking members decide to defect to opposing factions.
Deora's comments target the internal governance of the Shiv Sena (UBT). He said that the current leadership style limits democratic functioning within the organization. This internal friction has coincided with wider reports of attempts to lure party members away through financial incentives.
Sanjay Raut, another party leader, addressed these rumors of a split. Raut said that members of Parliament were allegedly offered 15 crore rupees each [1] to switch sides. These claims highlight the high stakes involved in maintaining party loyalty during periods of leadership disputes.
While the party continues to operate under Thackeray, the public criticism from Deora and the bribery allegations from Raut suggest a fragile internal environment. The tension underscores a recurring pattern of fragmentation within the Shiv Sena's various iterations over recent years.
“the Uddhav Thackeray‑led Shiv Sena (UBT) is operating like a monarchy”
The tension between Milind Deora and the party leadership indicates a growing rift in the Shiv Sena (UBT). When senior MPs publicly describe their own party as a monarchy while other leaders report multi-crore bribery attempts, it suggests the party is vulnerable to further defections. This could weaken the opposition's leverage in Maharashtra and lead to another reconfiguration of the state's political alliances.
