Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs join Eknath Shinde camp in major blow to Uddhav Thackeray

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) suffered a major setback on Monday (June 22) after six MPs from the party joined Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.

Six MPs switch sides

The six MPs formally switched allegiance to Shinde's faction, strengthening the ruling camp while dealing a significant blow to the opposition outfit in the state.

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The development comes after days of intense speculation surrounding the future of the MPs, who were reportedly in touch with Shinde's camp amid growing uncertainty within the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.

The six MPs who stayed away from the Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on June 17 were Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar.

Shinde celebrates defection

Addressing a press conference after welcoming the six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs into his faction, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde hailed the move as a significant boost for the party.

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“Not one, but six tigers are present here with me today. We have hit a six this time,” Shinde said as quoted by India Today.

Drawing parallels with the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, Shinde said the rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray was undertaken to safeguard the party’s saffron ideology and retain control of its ‘bow and arrow’ symbol.

'Second revolt' claim

He described the entry of the six MPs into his camp as a “second revolt” and said it demonstrated growing confidence in his leadership.

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Shinde also argued that the latest defections reflected support for the ideological position taken by his faction, which has maintained since the 2022 split that it represents the original Shiv Sena’s principles and legacy.

The induction further strengthens Shinde’s hold within the party and marks another setback for the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp.

Anti-defection hurdle crossed

With Shiv Sena (UBT) holding nine Lok Sabha seats, the rebel camp required the support of at least six MPs to satisfy the two-thirds mark under anti-defection provisions.

Also Read: Rebel Sena (UBT) MP Ashtikar confirms crossover to Shinde Sena: 'Never left ideology'

Their decision to join Shinde’s Shiv Sena is the latest turn in the struggle for control of the party that has played out since 2022, when Shinde led a revolt against then Chief Minister Thackeray.

Unease within Uddhav camp

The turmoil within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) appeared to deepen on Monday, with at least three legislators skipping a meeting convened by the party chief in Mumbai to chalk out a strategy against the Mahayuti government during the ongoing monsoon session of the Maharashtra legislature.

Thackeray chaired the meeting of MLAs and MLCs at the party office 'Shivalay' on the first day of the session, even as six Sena (UBT) MPs formally joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena at the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratishthan, located about 500 metres away.

MLC Sunil Shinde and MLAs Sanjay Potnis and Rahul Patil stayed away from the meeting. While Patil cited his involvement in the legislative council poll counting and preparations for Thackeray's upcoming Parbhani tour, Sunil Shinde said he was returning to Mumbai from his native place in Chiplun. Potnis did not specify a reason but maintained that he remained with Shiv Sena (UBT).

According to a legislator present at the meeting, Thackeray asked party lawmakers to corner the government over issues such as the "inadequate" farm loan waiver, deteriorating law and order, crimes against women and rising cases of drug peddling.

Battle for Sena legacy

The latest split in Shiv Sena (UBT) has reshaped Maharashtra’s political landscape and set off a series of legal, organisational and electoral battles between the two factions.

For Shinde, the induction of the six MPs marks a fresh gain in his bid to strengthen his hold over the party founded by Bal Thackeray. His faction has consistently argued that it carries forward the Shiv Sena’s original ideology and political legacy.