Shiv Sena (UBT) has moved Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla amid reports that several MPs may join the Eknath Shinde-led faction, citing anti-defection provisions and Supreme Court rulings.
Shiv Sena (UBT) has sought Speaker Om Birla's intervention amid reports of possible defections by party MPs. | IANS
Fearing a fresh political rupture similar to the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction has approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking protection against any attempt by MPs to form a separate group in Parliament.
In a formal representation submitted on June 16, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader in the Lok Sabha Arvind Sawant requested the Speaker not to grant recognition, privileges or official status to any faction claiming to represent the party independently of its parent organisation.
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The move comes amid growing speculation in Maharashtra politics over reports that several Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs may be considering a shift to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Political circles have been abuzz with what is being referred to as “Operation Tiger”, with reports suggesting that as many as seven of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs could break ranks.
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In his letter, Sawant argued that lawmakers elected on the Shiv Sena (UBT) symbol cannot independently claim the identity of the party inside Parliament.
He maintained that the constitutional framework does not recognise competing parliamentary formations representing the same political party.
Referring to the anti-defection provisions, Sawant noted that constitutional protection for a “split” no longer exists after the removal of Paragraph 3 of the Tenth Schedule through the 91st Constitutional Amendment.
He also cited the Supreme Court’s 2023 judgment in the Subhash Desai case, contending that authority over party leadership, whips and official directions remains with the parent political organisation rather than a legislative group.
According to the submission, a valid merger under the Tenth Schedule requires not only the support of at least two-thirds of legislators but also a merger of the original political party itself.
Sawant argued that any attempt by MPs to act independently without such a merger could amount to voluntarily giving up party membership and attract disqualification proceedings.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader urged the Speaker to formally record the representation and refrain from recognising any splinter faction.
He also requested that no decision be taken on any such claim without first hearing the party’s authorised leadership.
The letter has been submitted at a time when political uncertainty within the party has become a major talking point in Maharashtra.
Adding to the political tension, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut recently alleged that opposition MPs were being offered large sums of money to switch sides.
Responding to Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra’s comments on social media, Raut claimed that the “minimum support price” of an MP had been fixed at Rs 50 crore and described Rs 15 crore as merely an advance payment.
Earlier, Raut had alleged that MPs in Maharashtra were being offered up to Rs 15 crore each to defect and join the Eknath Shinde-led faction.
He also dismissed reports that several Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs were preparing to form a separate group, saying all party MPs had recently attended a meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray and reaffirmed their support for his leadership.
While leaders from the Shinde camp have denied attempting to engineer defections, remarks by Shiv Sena MLC Krupal Tumane suggesting that talks with several UBT MPs were at an advanced stage have continued to fuel speculation over a possible realignment ahead of Parliament’s monsoon session.
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