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Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Face Fallout as Six Skip Critical Meeting
The buzz surrounding a potential split in the Shiv Sena (UBT) is intensifying, especially after six out of nine of its Lok Sabha MPs chose to skip a crucial party meeting. To legally separate or merge with another party without falling foul of the anti-defection law, at least two-thirds of the MPs need to act in concert. The absent MPs include Sanjay Dina Patil, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Waghchowre, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, and Nagesh Patil Ashtikar.
Commenting on the situation, Sanjay Shirsat from the rival Shiv Sena faction remarked,
“It became crystal clear that those six MPs don’t want to stay with the Shiv Sena (UBT). Now what decision they take needs to be seen. Whatever it is, they all fight it together.”He denied any involvement from his party in creating this rift, asserting that the MPs' absence was due to internal discord within the Shiv Sena (UBT).
In response to the absentees, the Shiv Sena (UBT) plans to issue notices to the MPs, demanding explanations for their absence. Following the meeting, party leader Sanjay Raut stated,
“They (MPs) will be served show cause notices, and response will be sought from them. We will look towards the cancellation of their membership. This is betrayal.”Raut emphasized that the MPs remain members of the party and were elected under its banner, warning of legal repercussions if they violated party loyalty.
Before the meeting commenced, Raut had hinted at the need for strict action against any MPs who might break away, declaring that they must be taught a lesson. He added,
“They feel that they have done this once. I would tell them, do it and show it to us.”Raut also accused the BJP of corrupting Maharashtra’s political landscape, alleging that MPs were being offered substantial sums to switch allegiances, with specific claims regarding Omraje Nimbalkar being coerced due to a long-standing murder case involving his father.
At a press conference with Arvind Sawant, Raut revealed that both Uddhav Thackeray and NCP leader Sharad Pawar had reached out, insisting on decisive action against the MPs, stressing that none should escape accountability. Sawant further recalled that the late Bal Thackeray had even suggested physical consequences for wayward MPs and MLAs.
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