Shiv Sena Crisis: 6 MPs Likely To Join Shinde Faction; Uddhav Camp Issues Whip To Attend In Delhi

In yet another blow to the Shiv Sena (UBT), six to seven Lok Sabha MPs are expected to jump ship to join the Shinde faction on Wednesday.

The MPs have landed in Delhi and are likely to meet Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who arrived in the national capital late on Tuesday night.

The development comes as the Shiv Sena (UBT) has issued a whip to party MPs, asking the nine MPs to attend a meeting in Delhi to discuss "important issues".

In a bid to prevent the rebel leaders from forming a separate group, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant has asked Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla not to grant recognition to any "breakaway" group which claims to represent the party.

In a letter, Sawant noted that the authority to determine leadership within the House, to appoint the whip, and to issue directions regarding legislative conduct comes from the political party, according to a report in PTI. "The legislature party does not possess an independent source of authority divorced from the political party," he said.

It should be noted that five MPs skipped a meeting called by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree and attended it online.

MPs Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, Rajabhau Waze and Sanjay Patil attended the meeting in person. However, Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar and Sanjay Deshmukh joined online, while Sanjay Jadhav spoke to Uddhav Thackeray over the phone.

According to rumours, the leaders have decided to change camps as Uddhav plans his son Aditya Thackeray's elevation. An announcement is expected in this regard on 19 June, which marks the 60th foundation day of the undivided Shiv Sena, the report said.

Amid the buzz of rebellion, the phones of the MPs have remained switched off even as Uddhav and other senior leaders are trying to persuade the rebel leaders to prevent another split.

The undivided Shiv Sena suffered a split in 2022 after Eknath Shinde led the faction comprising 40 MLAs, eventually bringing down Uddhav Thackeray's government. Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Sanjay Jadhav are in the national capital to complete the process of forming a separate faction within the Lok Sabha today.

However, the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) has announced that it is ready to welcome any leader who wants to serve the interests of the people of Maharashtra.

Speaking to PTI, Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC, reacting to reports of "Operation Tiger", said: "Eknath Shinde's popularity is known to all. Every single day, there is a Paksh Pravesh, whether it is someone from Amravati, Nanded, Solapur, Kolhapur, Parbhani or Latur. The list is endless. This is because of the good governance model. Rather than using terms like 'Operation Tiger' and speculating, people should understand that the only operation Eknath Shinde conducts is for the development and progress of Maharashtra. If people choose to join Shiv Sena of their own accord, as we have been witnessing, they are welcome if it is in the interest of the people of Maharashtra."