Between five and seven members of parliament from the Shiv Sena (UBT) are reportedly moving to join the Eknath Shinde camp.
This shift threatens to dismantle the parliamentary presence of the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray. If a significant number of legislators defect, it could alter the balance of power within the party and trigger legal battles over party symbols and designations.
Reports indicate that seven of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are set to desert the party [1]. Two rebel MPs have already arrived in Delhi [1], while the remaining five are expected to arrive tonight [1]. Among those reported to be moving are Shirdi MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Yavatmal MP Sanjay Deshmukh [1, 2].
The move is driven by internal power struggles within the Shiv Sena, with MPs seeking to align with the Shinde faction following the original party split [1, 2]. The timing and number of defectors are critical due to anti-defection laws. At least six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs would need to move together to form a separate group to avoid being disqualified [2].
While some reports identify five rebel MPs [2], other accounts suggest the number could be as high as seven [1]. This discrepancy highlights the fluid nature of the current negotiations taking place in Delhi. The potential exit of these members would represent a major blow to Thackeray's influence in the upper and lower houses of parliament.
The Shinde camp has previously seen similar shifts in loyalty, and this latest development suggests a continued effort to consolidate the Shiv Sena identity under Shinde's leadership. The arriving MPs are expected to formalize their allegiance shortly after their arrival in the capital.
“Seven of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are set to desert the party.”
The potential defection of these MPs is a strategic move to bypass the anti-defection law, which requires a two-thirds majority of a party's legislators to merge with another party without facing disqualification. By securing six or more of the nine MPs, the Shinde camp could effectively neutralize the UBT faction's parliamentary standing, leaving Uddhav Thackeray with minimal legislative leverage and potentially stripping the UBT faction of its recognized status in parliament.
