Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on June 20, 2026 [3], that there is only one Shiv Sena and it is led by Eknath Shinde [1].
The statement arrives as the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction of the party faces a significant internal crisis. The rebellion threatens the stability of the UBT faction's representation in the lower house of Parliament.
Shah made the remarks in the context of a parliamentary session in Delhi. The comments followed a move by six [1] of the nine [2] UBT Lok Sabha MPs who skipped a party meeting to submit a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. These lawmakers are seeking recognition as a separate bloc [1].
"There is only one Shiv Sena, and it is led by Eknath Shinde," Shah said [1].
The Home Minister's comments serve to underscore the legitimacy of Shinde's leadership while criticizing the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray. This political friction occurs amid reports of a potential strategic maneuver known as 'Operation Tiger' [2].
The UBT faction's loss of a majority of its Lok Sabha MPs could diminish its influence in national legislative proceedings. With six [1] MPs distancing themselves from the party leadership, the faction's ability to maintain a unified front in Delhi is compromised.
“"There is only one Shiv Sena, and it is led by Eknath Shinde."”
This development signals a deepening divide within the Shiv Sena's splinter groups and suggests a strategic effort by the ruling coalition to further consolidate power in Maharashtra. By publicly validating Eknath Shinde's leadership and supporting the defection of UBT lawmakers, the central government is effectively challenging the legal and political viability of Uddhav Thackeray's claim to the party's legacy.
