3 loyalists, 6 rebels: New Sena faction set to emerge after Uddhav meeting flop
Only three of Shiv Sena (UBT)'s nine Lok Sabha MPs attended a crucial Delhi meeting. The absence of six MPs intensified talk of a fresh split and appeared to match rebel claims of two-thirds support.
A rebellion brewing within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) appeared to move decisively into the open on Thursday after only three of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs attended a crucial meeting in Delhi, despite a three-line whip directing the lawmakers to be present.
According to sources, the rebellion is now expected to formally take shape, with Parbhani MP Sanjay Jadhav likely to be named its leader. The move would mark the most significant setback for the Uddhav Sena since the 2022 revolt led by Eknath Shinde that fractured the undivided Shiv Sena.
The high-stakes meeting in Delhi was arrended by only three Lok Sabha MPs — Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was also present.
The legislators who did not attend the meeting were Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani) Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi), Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv) and Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East).
Before the meeting began, attendance sheets were prepared to formally record the presence of MPs who complied with the party whip.
Arriving at Parliament, Raut launched a blistering attack on the absent lawmakers, declaring, "Those who attend are ours. Those who don't are traitors and dishonest."
The Rajya Sabha MP also issued a defiant warning to those allegedly attempting to engineer a split.
"They think they've done it once. I'll tell them, prove it... Are you making a mockery of democracy? Do you have a lot of money? Who are you threatening with the ED and CBI? Us? We've been to jail before and are ready to go again. But I'll only go to jail after teaching you a lesson," he said.
Ahead of the meeting, he had reiterated that the party had followed all parliamentary procedures.
"Arvind Sawant has issued a whip to all our MPs that an important meeting is being held at our Parliament office in Delhi. A few issues need to be discussed. This three-line whip has been issued. So, we will begin our meeting at 11 am today. I don't know how many MPs have reached Delhi so far. But we have a procedure in the parliamentary and legislative parties to send a whip. This has been done," he said.
The emergency meeting was called a day after reports emerged that a group of rebel MPs had approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and claimed the support of six MPs — the exact two-thirds strength required to seek recognition as a separate group under anti-defection provisions.
Thursday's developments have lent fresh weight to claims of a carefully orchestrated "Operation Tiger" by the Eknath Shinde camp.
Shinde, who has returned to Mumbai after spending several days in Delhi, has maintained silence amid the fresh political storm in Maharashtra.
There has been no formal announcement of any crossover.
A rebellion brewing within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) appeared to move decisively into the open on Thursday after only three of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs attended a crucial meeting in Delhi, despite a three-line whip directing the lawmakers to be present.
According to sources, the rebellion is now expected to formally take shape, with Parbhani MP Sanjay Jadhav likely to be named its leader. The move would mark the most significant setback for the Uddhav Sena since the 2022 revolt led by Eknath Shinde that fractured the undivided Shiv Sena.
The high-stakes meeting in Delhi was arrended by only three Lok Sabha MPs — Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was also present.
The legislators who did not attend the meeting were Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani) Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi), Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv) and Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East).
Before the meeting began, attendance sheets were prepared to formally record the presence of MPs who complied with the party whip.
Arriving at Parliament, Raut launched a blistering attack on the absent lawmakers, declaring, "Those who attend are ours. Those who don't are traitors and dishonest."
The Rajya Sabha MP also issued a defiant warning to those allegedly attempting to engineer a split.
"They think they've done it once. I'll tell them, prove it... Are you making a mockery of democracy? Do you have a lot of money? Who are you threatening with the ED and CBI? Us? We've been to jail before and are ready to go again. But I'll only go to jail after teaching you a lesson," he said.
Ahead of the meeting, he had reiterated that the party had followed all parliamentary procedures.
"Arvind Sawant has issued a whip to all our MPs that an important meeting is being held at our Parliament office in Delhi. A few issues need to be discussed. This three-line whip has been issued. So, we will begin our meeting at 11 am today. I don't know how many MPs have reached Delhi so far. But we have a procedure in the parliamentary and legislative parties to send a whip. This has been done," he said.
The emergency meeting was called a day after reports emerged that a group of rebel MPs had approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and claimed the support of six MPs — the exact two-thirds strength required to seek recognition as a separate group under anti-defection provisions.
Thursday's developments have lent fresh weight to claims of a carefully orchestrated "Operation Tiger" by the Eknath Shinde camp.
Shinde, who has returned to Mumbai after spending several days in Delhi, has maintained silence amid the fresh political storm in Maharashtra.
There has been no formal announcement of any crossover.
