Union Home Minister Amit Shah said June 20, 2026, that only one Shiv Sena exists and it is led by Eknath Shinde [1].

The statement marks a significant escalation in the battle for the party's identity, occurring as the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction faces internal rebellion and political maneuvering known as “Operation Tiger” [2].

Speaking at a rally in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Shah dismissed the legitimacy of the rival faction [3]. "There is only one Shiv Sena now, and it is led by Eknath Shinde," Shah said [4].

The Home Minister's remarks come at a time of instability for the Shiv Sena (UBT) wing. Six of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs have written to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking recognition as a separate bloc [5].

Shah said to reporters that the party remains under the leadership of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde [6]. This public endorsement aims to consolidate support for Shinde's faction while countering the influence of the Thackeray-led group during the current political volatility [2].

"Only one Shiv Sena exists now," Shah said [7].

“"There is only one Shiv Sena now, and it is led by Eknath Shinde."”

The intervention by the Union Home Minister signals a strategic effort to delegitimize the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) by formally recognizing only the Eknath Shinde faction as the authentic party. By highlighting the defection of six out of nine MPs, the central government is positioning the Shinde wing as the dominant political entity in Maharashtra, potentially paving the way for a total collapse of the UBT's legislative standing.