NEW DELHI, June 18: A major split appeared imminent in Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday after six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs skipped the party’s parliamentary meeting, signalling a likely crossover to the ruling Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Only Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje attended the meeting along with the party’s lone Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, while the absence of the remaining six MPs reinforced speculation of a formal breakaway.
The absent MPs were Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar and Bhausaheb Wakchaure.
According to sources, all six MPs have signed a letter seeking a merger with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and submitted it to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. The process is yet to be completed as the Speaker’s office is understood to require the physical presence of some MPs to verify their signatures, which is expected in the coming days.
Ahead of the meeting, Shiv Sena (UBT) had issued a three-line whip directing all its MPs to attend, apparently laying the groundwork for possible disqualification proceedings against the rebel lawmakers.
With the party having nine Lok Sabha MPs, at least six members are required to switch together to qualify for protection under the anti-defection law.
“Action will be taken against those violating the whip after consulting party chief Uddhav Thackeray,” Arvind Sawant told reporters before the meeting.
However, leaders in the Shinde camp questioned the validity of the whip, arguing that under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, a whip applies only to proceedings inside the House and not to internal organisational meetings.
They also cited court rulings stating that while political parties can issue directions regarding internal meetings, failure to comply does not attract disqualification under the anti-defection law unless it relates to voting in the legislature.
Sources said Eknath Shinde had arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday and returned to Mumbai the following day. Shinde had led the 2022 rebellion in the undivided Shiv Sena, resulting in the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
On Wednesday, Sawant, Desai and Raut met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to prevent any unlawful defection.
Desai maintained that even if two-thirds of MPs support a merger, individual legislators cannot merge with another party unless the original political party itself decides to merge, as provided under the law. (Agencies)
