Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and party spokesperson, denied a split in the party during a press conference in Maharashtra this week.
The development comes as speculation grows regarding the stability of the party's parliamentary representation. Any significant defection could shift the balance of power within the legislative body and weaken the party's influence in Maharashtra.
Raut said that rival groups have attempted to poach party members by offering Rs 50 crore [1] to MPs who agree to defect. He challenged those considering such offers to be transparent about their intentions.
"If anyone wants to go, they can resign and leave," Raut said. "If such reports emerge about our MPs, they should refute them. This time, the people of Maharashtra will not remain silent."
Internal tensions have surfaced as reports vary on the scale of the potential breakaway. Some reports indicate that six of nine MPs are planning to form a separate group [1], while other accounts noted that five of nine MPs skipped the press conference [2].
In a move to counter these rumors, three MPs met with the Lok Sabha Speaker to submit a letter [3]. The submission was intended to pre-empt any claims of defection, and affirm their loyalty to the party leadership.
The party spokesperson said that those who accept bribes to switch sides will be exposed to the public. This strategy aims to leverage public sentiment in Maharashtra to discourage further poaching attempts by political rivals [2].
“"If anyone wants to go, they can resign and leave."”
The clash between Raut's public denials and the reported absence of several MPs suggests a fragile internal cohesion within Shiv Sena (UBT). By framing the potential split as a matter of financial corruption rather than political disagreement, the party is attempting to delegitimize any future dissidents as 'bought' rather than ideologically driven, which is a critical narrative battle in Maharashtra's volatile political landscape.
