Shiv Sena (UBT) ‘split’—Raut claims rebels in touch, clarity expected Monday

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday claimed some dissident MPs are still in touch with the party and that talks are underway with at least two of them. He also said that they had reached out to party leaders as they feared public resentment in their constituencies if they “ditched” Shiv Sena (UBT) to cross over to Deputy Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Though Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, the rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, who has been missing since the June -17 Parliamentary party meeting, which six of nine MPs skipped, has reportedly confirmed that he has crossed over to the Shiv Sena headed by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In the first public confirmation of the “split”, Ashtikar said he was joining the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, adding that the decision was driven by the need to secure funds and complete development works in his constituency rather than by any anger against Uddhav Thackeray.

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The statement assumes significance as none of the six rebel MPs has publicly confirmed the rebellion so far, despite triggering one of the biggest political crises for Shiv Sena (UBT) since the 2022 split led by Shinde. However, Dharashiv MP Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar is believed to have said that he will declare his stand (on whether to quit Shiv Sena (UBT) or not) after consulting supporters and party workers in his constituency.

According to Raut, all rebel MPs were technically still with Shiv Sena (UBT). There were no orders from Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the matter, and the Shinde-led Shiv Sena had also made no official announcement regarding their induction into the party, he added. Besides, the MPs have not declared that they had quit Shiv Sena (UBT), although they have violated the party whip by skipping the parliamentary party meeting.

Sources said Nimbalkar’s stance is crucial, as the rebel camp needs his support to reach the two-thirds mark required for the next legal process before the Lok Sabha Speaker. Shiv Sena (UBT) has nine Lok Sabha members, and the rebel bloc needs at least six MPs — or two-thirds of the total strength — to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.

A formal press conference by all six dissident MPs can be held only after Nimbalkar announces his decision, which may now happen on Monday.

The six MPs — Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Nagesh Patil Ashtikar — skipped the Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on June 17 amid speculation that they were jumping ship to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Incidentally, Raut also attacked Union Home Minister Amit Shah over his remark that there was now only one Shiv Sena and that it was headed by Eknath Shinde. Raut said the statement insulted Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and Maharashtra, and maintained that there was only one Shiv Sena, headed by Uddhav Thackeray. “The more you insult Shiv Sena (UBT), the more the people of Maharashtra will stand against you,” he said.