Six or seven Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs reportedly met in Delhi on Wednesday to discuss joining Eknath Shinde's faction [1, 2].
The meeting signals a potential collapse of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction's strength in the lower house of Parliament. If a significant number of lawmakers defect, it could fundamentally alter the political balance in Maharashtra and the national standing of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
The gathering took place around 8:30 a.m. at the residence of Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde [1]. Reports indicate the meeting was part of an effort by the Eknath Shinde faction to poach members from the Thackeray-led group [1, 2].
Sanjay Raut, a senior leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), addressed the reports by accusing the lawmakers of betrayal. "These men are traitors to the party," Raut said [1].
Financial inducements are at the center of the controversy. Raut said that the faction received offers amounting to Rs 15 crore to switch sides [2]. This figure has sparked a political storm as both factions trade accusations of corruption, and instability [2].
There are conflicting reports regarding the scale of the rebellion. Some sources state six MPs are likely to split [2], while others suggest the number could be as high as seven [1].
Despite these reports, the party leadership has attempted to project a front of stability. Raut said that all MPs remain united and there is no split [3]. However, the meeting in Delhi suggests an internal crisis is unfolding within the party's ranks [1].
The political friction follows a previous split in the Maharashtra-based party, which left the Shiv Sena divided between the Shinde and Thackeray camps. This latest development threatens to further isolate the UBT faction from its legislative power base [1, 2].
“"These men are traitors to the party."”
This reported defection represents a critical threat to the viability of the Shiv Sena (UBT) as a legislative entity. If the lawmakers join the Shinde faction, it not only weakens Uddhav Thackeray's bargaining power in future coalitions but also reinforces the dominance of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Maharashtra's political landscape.
