Shiv Sena (UBT) Issues Warning to MPs Over Alleged Merger Claims

Shiv Sena (UBT) Takes Action Against Defecting MPs

On Monday, Shiv Sena (UBT) formally cautioned its Lok Sabha members who had previously left the party. This warning followed reports suggesting that these members were attempting to claim a merger with the faction led by Eknath Shinde. Arvind Ganpat Sawant, the leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary group in the Lok Sabha, sent a detailed letter to MPs Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Nagesh Ashtikar, Sanjay (Bandu) Haribhau Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, and Sanjay Dina Patil, clarifying that the original political party had not authorized any such actions.

In his letter, Sawant expressed concern over reports in the public domain indicating that these MPs were trying to portray a merger between Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) and the faction led by Eknath Shinde. He also noted that they had contacted the Lok Sabha Speaker to assert that such a merger had occurred or were attempting to gain recognition for this so-called merger.

Sawant emphasized that it should be made clear from the outset that as the legitimate political party, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has neither initiated any merger with Eknath Shinde's faction nor with any other political party, nor has it granted consent or permission for such actions. Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, the party's chief, has confirmed this stance unequivocally.

In a letter dated July 13, Sawant reiterated that Shiv Sena (UBT) is the authentic political party under which these members were elected based on its electoral symbol and mandate for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections. He reminded them that they were elected with the support of the electorate who trusted Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray's leadership, and that the elections were primarily contested against candidates fielded by Eknath Shinde's faction.