Several Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) traveled to Delhi for a secret meeting at the residence of Shrikant Shinde.
The movement threatens to trigger a fresh split within the party and could potentially strip the UBT faction of its recognized status in the Lok Sabha. If enough members defect, the Shinde camp could consolidate power over the party's legislative representation in Maharashtra.
Reports indicate that between six [2] and seven [1] of the nine UBT Lok Sabha MPs are in secret talks to defect to the camp of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Some reports specify that six MPs met Shinde in Delhi [2], while others suggest a higher number of legislators are considering the move [1].
This potential exodus is critical because a separate group in the Lok Sabha requires two-thirds of the party's MPs to avoid the anti-defection law [3]. With only nine MPs in total, the loss of six or seven members would easily cross this threshold, effectively legitimizing the split.
In response to the crisis, Uddhav Thackeray summoned UBT legislators for a meeting on June 22, 2024 [4]. The gathering was intended to stabilize the party ranks amid the growing buzz of "Operation Tiger," the alleged plan to bring UBT members into the Shinde fold.
Sanjay Raut, a senior leader within the UBT faction, reacted to the rumors of betrayal. "We won't spare them," Raut said [5].
The political fallout remains centered in Maharashtra, where the rivalry between the two factions of the Shiv Sena continues to destabilize regional alliances. The UBT faction has also petitioned the Speaker amid the split rumors to protect its standing [2].
“"We won't spare them"”
A successful defection of six or seven MPs would allow the Shinde faction to meet the two-thirds legal requirement to form a recognized group in the Lok Sabha. This would not only diminish Uddhav Thackeray's legislative influence but could also lead to the formal loss of the party's symbol and official recognition for the UBT wing, fundamentally altering the balance of power in Maharashtra's political landscape.
