Six Members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction are poised to formally announce their defection and merger with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. This move marks another significant chapter in the ongoing political split that has reshaped Maharashtra's political landscape.
Formalizing the Split
The rebel MPs are expected to address a joint press conference where they will publicly explain their reasons for leaving the Uddhav Thackeray camp. During this event, they plan to release photographs and video footage of their recent meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. They will also present a copy of the letter submitted to the Speaker, seeking official recognition of their merger with the Shinde faction and a change in their Lok Sabha seating arrangements.
The Delhi Operation
The seeds of this rebellion were sown on June 16, when six MPs—Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, and Sanjay Dina Patil—travelled to Delhi separately. They checked into a hotel in Noida, setting the stage for their formal split.
Sources indicate that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, accompanied by his son and MP Shrikanth Shinde, also arrived in the national capital on the same day. The following morning, Shrikanth Shinde and Omraje Nimbalkar met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla around 7 am. Later, at approximately 10:20 am, the remaining five MPs also met the Speaker to submit their formal request.
Accusations and Fallout
Following their meetings in Delhi, the MPs dispersed to various cities including Chennai, Varanasi, Pune, and Mumbai, before reconvening for their scheduled press conference. Speculation about their defection intensified after five MPs were reportedly absent from a meeting at Uddhav Thackeray's residence, Matoshree, fueling rumors of an "Operation Tiger" orchestrated by the Shinde camp.
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, a prominent leader in the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, initially attempted to downplay the absences. However, as the MPs headed to Delhi, Raut launched a scathing attack, accusing the rival camp of using money to poach legislators and alleging that the rebel MPs were flown to the capital in chartered aircraft. He condemned the rebels as "backstabbers," warning of severe repercussions for those betraying the party.
This formalization of the split represents a critical moment for the Shiv Sena, further deepening the rift between the Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde factions, and potentially altering parliamentary dynamics.