Political Turmoil in Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray Calls Emergency Meeting
Maharashtra's Political Landscape Shifts
The political scene in Maharashtra is witnessing significant upheaval once again. Amid discussions of a potential split within the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) and the rising buzz around 'Operation Tiger', party leader Uddhav Thackeray has entered full action mode. To prevent fragmentation of his party and to maintain unity among MPs, Thackeray convened a crucial emergency meeting at the party's parliamentary office in New Delhi at 11 AM on Thursday. Recognizing the seriousness of the situation, the UBT leadership issued a 'three-line whip' mandating all Lok Sabha members to attend the meeting.
Context of the Emergency Meeting
This development follows a day after a faction of UBT leaders met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, claiming support from six out of nine party MPs in the lower house. In light of this, UBT has enforced the three-line whip for all members to participate in Thursday's parliamentary session.
Potential Shift in Alliances
Reports suggest that some MPs are planning to join the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. This faction currently holds five Lok Sabha seats, and if five MPs from UBT switch sides, the party's strength in the lower house would increase to eleven. Notably, to circumvent anti-defection laws, the rebel group requires two-thirds support in the Lok Sabha.
UBT's Response to Rebel Leaders
Previously, UBT leaders had met with Birla, submitting a memorandum urging him to prevent any illegal defections. Senior UBT leader Sanjay Raut stated that Birla assured the party that he would consider all aspects if approached by any member. Raut, who is closely associated with Thackeray, also alleged that several Lok Sabha members in Maharashtra were offered ₹50 crores to switch allegiance.
Clarification on Party Mergers
Meanwhile, Lok Sabha MP Anil Desai emphasized that no MP can merge into another party without the support of two-thirds of their members. Speaking at a press conference alongside Raut, Desai clarified that only the original party can merge if it possesses the necessary two-thirds majority. He stated, "This decision rests with the Speaker. Therefore, if a group claims to have two-thirds support and wishes to merge with another party, such a group cannot be recognized under the rules, as only the original party can merge, regardless of having six MPs or not."