Six Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction skipped a crucial parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi on Thursday [1].
The absence of these legislators signals a potential internal crisis for the party as leadership suspects members may be preparing to switch political sides. With a significant portion of the faction's parliamentary strength missing, the move threatens the stability of the party's representation in the lower house.
The party leadership responded by issuing show-cause notices to the six absent members [1]. These notices require the MPs to provide an explanation for their absence within seven days [3].
This disciplinary action comes amid a growing buzz of a fresh rebellion within the ranks. The Shiv Sena (UBT) faction currently holds a total of nine Lok Sabha MPs [2]. The fact that six of these members were absent from the New Delhi meeting indicates that two-thirds of the party's parliamentary presence was missing from the deliberations [1], [2].
Internal party sources said the friction is tied to an ideology row [4]. The leadership is now using these formal notices to gauge the loyalty of the MPs and to prevent further defections that could weaken the party's influence in national politics.
While the MPs have not yet officially responded to the notices, the seven-day window creates a deadline for the members to either reaffirm their loyalty to the Thackeray-led faction, or formalize their departure [3].
“Six Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction skipped a crucial parliamentary party meeting”
The potential defection of six out of nine MPs would effectively strip the Shiv Sena (UBT) of its parliamentary presence in the Lok Sabha. This instability highlights the ongoing volatility within Maharashtra's political landscape, where party splits and shifting loyalties frequently reshape the balance of power between regional factions and national coalitions.
