Shiv Sena (UBT) Split 2.0? 16 MLAs To Ditch Uddhav To Join Shinde Faction

Amid the rebellion in the TMC, another party has reportedly landed in a similar position as the Shiv Sena (UBT) is heading for the split again.

After the 2022 rebellion, 14 to 16 MLAs and six MPs are set to jump ship, according to a report in News18. The leaders are expected to defect Uddhav Thackeray's faction in a matter of a week.

The MLAs and MPs are likely to join the Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena. The rumours of the dissent started after the leaders skipped the meeting at Matoshree in Mumbai called by Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday.

Reports suggest that the Shinde faction has been in contact with Shinde faction leaders, with discussions recently taking place in New Delhi.

It has to be noted that Eknath Shinde brought down Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Gathbandhan in 2022 and headed the rebellion before joining hands with the BJP. He then became the Chief Minister while Devendra Fadnavis became his deputy.

In the 2024 state elections, the BJP and Shinde faction came out with flying colours with Devendra Fadnavis becoming the Chief Minister while Shinde became his deputy along with late Ajit Pawar.

Responding to the split rumours, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant, said, "Why don't they make the names of these seven MPs public, like they did in the case of the TMC? There is no tiger; they have no teeth. Those making these claims should themselves be asked whom they are in touch with. We made our position clear on Sunday. All our MPs attended the meeting, and those who could not be physically present joined through video conferencing,"

On the other hand, Uddhav, in Sunday meeting, has made his stand clear that he is not going to stop any leader if he wants to quit the party. He declared that the leaders who ditched the Bal Thackeray founded party will eventually regret their decision.

I a similar way, 20 MPs from the TMC have rebelled against the party and now joined the NDA.