Shiv Sena Faces Internal Split as Six MPs Form New Faction
The Shiv Sena party is witnessing a significant internal split as six of its MPs have decided to form a new faction, aligning with Eknath Shinde. This move, which coincides with the party's 60th anniversary, has been approved by the Lok Sabha Speaker, marking a pivotal moment in Maharashtra's political landscape. The rebel MPs aim to strengthen their position within the NDA, while the Thackeray faction seeks to maintain its official status. Legal implications regarding party mergers are also being discussed, adding another layer of complexity to this evolving situation. Read on to explore the full details of this political upheaval.
Jun 17, 2026, 14:34 IST
Internal Division in Shiv Sena
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) is experiencing a significant internal division once again. On Wednesday, six of its MPs met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Prakash Birla in Delhi and submitted a letter announcing the formation of a separate faction. The Speaker has granted approval for this new group, marking the success of 'Operation Tiger.' These MPs are set to join the faction led by Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on June 19, coinciding with the party's 60th anniversary. The MPs forming the new faction include Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Bhausaheb Wakchoure (Shirdi), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli), Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv), and Sanjay Patil (Mumbai North-East). With this development, Shinde's faction will now boast a total of 13 MPs, making them the third-largest party within the NDA.
Meeting and Strategic Moves
These six MPs arrived in Delhi on Tuesday night to hold discussions with Eknath Shinde. The meeting took place at the residence of Shinde's son, Dr. Shrikant Shinde, in Delhi, and included Minister Pratap Sarnaik along with a legal advisory team of 16 members. Shinde has been cautious to avoid any disqualification issues. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) issued a whip on Wednesday, instructing its MPs to attend a meeting in New Delhi to discuss 'important issues.' This move aims to pave the way for disqualification proceedings against the rebel leaders. The Thackeray faction, now reduced to just three MPs, has written to the Speaker requesting that only their party be recognized as the official entity.
Legal Perspectives on Party Mergers
Lok Sabha MPs Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai met with Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday. They emphasized that under the law, a faction cannot merge with another party solely based on the support of two-thirds of its MPs. Even if a faction claims to have the necessary two-thirds majority, only the original party can initiate a merger. Desai further stated, 'The decision lies with the Speaker. Therefore, if a faction claiming two-thirds support approaches another party for a merger, it cannot be recognized under the rules, as only the original party has the authority to merge, regardless of the number of MPs involved.'