Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena (UBT) alleged that rebel party members were offered bribes to defect to the Eknath Shinde faction.
The situation threatens the stability of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party. If a significant number of lawmakers leave, the party could lose its standing and face a total collapse of its current parliamentary representation.
Several Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs recently traveled to New Delhi, including meetings held at the residence of Shrikant Shinde [1]. The movement has sparked widespread speculation regarding a fresh party split. Raut said the dissenting members should resign and seek a fresh mandate if they intend to leave [2].
Raut said that the rebel MPs were offered 15 crore rupees [1] each to switch sides. This financial inducement is allegedly part of a strategy to create a separate group within the party to avoid legal penalties associated with floor-crossing.
Under India's anti-defection law, a separate group can be formed without triggering disqualification if at least six of nine [3] MPs agree to the split. Reports vary on the number of lawmakers involved in the current unrest. Some sources identify five rebel MPs [3], while others suggest up to seven of nine [4] UBT Lok Sabha MPs may join the Shinde faction.
The tension reflects a deeper power struggle between the factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. The Shinde faction has previously sought to consolidate power by attracting members from the UBT wing through both political and monetary means [1].
“"Resign and seek a fresh mandate if you intend to leave."”
The potential defection of these MPs represents a critical threshold for the Shiv Sena (UBT). By reaching the two-thirds majority required by anti-defection laws, the rebels could legally merge or split without losing their seats, effectively stripping Uddhav Thackeray of his legislative influence and shifting the balance of power in Maharashtra's political landscape.
