The Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership has moved to discipline six of its Lok Sabha MPs after they skipped a crucial party meeting, escalating a rebellion scare that has fuelled speculation of a fresh shift towards Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s camp.
The development comes as reports of a possible second split in the Sena continue to dominate Maharashtra politics. The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction has now issued a fresh show-cause notice to the absent MPs and warned of action under the anti-defection law if they fail to explain their conduct.
Party chief whip in the Lok Sabha Anil Desai served the notices and sought a written explanation within 24 hours.
According to the notice, failure to respond within the stipulated period will be treated as voluntarily giving up membership of the party. The MPs could then face proceedings under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
The controversy surfaced after a parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi witnessed poor attendance from the UBT camp.
Of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs, only Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje attended the meeting. Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar and Bhausaheb Wakchaure remained absent.
Sena leaders attack Sanjay Raut over Congress remarks
Amid the turmoil, leaders from the Shinde camp linked the unrest within Shiv Sena (UBT) to recent remarks made by Sanjay Raut.
Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav claimed that UBT legislators, councillors and MPs were unhappy after Raut suggested that regional parties should merge with the Congress.
“Uddhav Thackeray faction’s spokesperson, Sanjay Raut, himself said that all regional parties should join the national party. This statement angered the MLA, municipal councillor, and MP of UBT as they feared that they might be taken to Congress,” Jadhav said.
Maharashtra minister Gulabrao Patil also targeted Uddhav Thackeray, alleging that the former chief minister had accepted Congress ideology when he allied with the party.
Another Maharashtra minister, Sanjay Shirsat, criticised Raut for praising Congress and referred to the 2019 alliance between Shiv Sena and Congress-backed partners.
Uddhav rejects merger speculation
Addressing party workers on Shiv Sena’s 60th foundation day, Uddhav Thackeray rejected speculation about a merger with Congress and launched a sharp attack on the BJP and Eknath Shinde.
Thackeray said he was willing to step down if allegations against him were proved, but asserted that he would never allow the Shiv Sena to be handed over to “any thief”.
The comments came as political tensions intensified over claims that several leaders from the UBT faction could switch allegiance.
Raut mocks Shinde camp, calls it a ‘test-tube baby’
A day after rival celebrations of Shiv Sena’s foundation day in Mumbai, Sanjay Raut took a swipe at the Shinde faction.
Questioning how a group formed four years ago could celebrate six decades of existence, Raut described the Shinde-led Sena as Amit Shah’s “test-tube baby”.
“What kind of miracle of biology is this?” Raut said while addressing reporters in Mumbai.
He also dismissed reports of “Operation Tiger”, under which UBT MPs are allegedly preparing to join Shinde’s camp.
According to Raut, those leaving the party had put themselves up for sale and were bought because of Shinde’s financial strength.
Earlier in the day, Raut posted a cryptic message on social media that appeared to target leaders leaving the party.
For his part, Eknath Shinde accused Uddhav Thackeray of abandoning Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology for power and said the Shiv Sena founder’s legacy should be reflected through action rather than claims.
The political battle has deepened uncertainty within the Uddhav Thackeray camp, with questions continuing to swirl over the future of several MPs and the possibility of another split in the party.