Six members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction have broken away from Uddhav Thackeray's leadership [1].
This defection weakens the Thackeray camp in India's lower house and strengthens the position of Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The move creates a new rift in the party's parliamentary representation during a period of intense political volatility in the state.
The rebel MPs submitted a formal letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla [1]. In the communication, the lawmakers said they accept the leadership of Eknath Shinde and requested recognition as a separate parliamentary group [1].
The lawmakers said a loss of confidence in the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray was the primary reason for the split [1]. By aligning themselves with Shinde, the group effectively moves away from the UBT faction's current strategic direction.
Internal party reactions to the move have varied. While the defection was formalized through the letter to the Speaker, reports indicate the party intended to issue show-cause notices to the six MPs after they missed a crucial meeting [2].
The shift in allegiance occurs as the Shiv Sena continues to be divided between the Shinde and Thackeray factions. The submission of the letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker is a procedural step required for the rebels to be officially recognized as a distinct entity within the parliament [1].
“Six members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction have broken away from Uddhav Thackeray's leadership.”
This defection underscores the ongoing instability within the Shiv Sena, where legitimacy and party symbols remain contested. By shifting six MPs to the Shinde camp, the balance of power in the Lok Sabha shifts, potentially isolating the Thackeray faction further and consolidating Shinde's influence over the party's legislative presence.
