The political future of six defected Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs is expected to become clearer in the coming days. Rebel Sena (UBT) MP Nagesh Patil Ashtekar on Sunday confirmed that he has crossed over to the Shiv Sena, headed by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Sanjay Raut claimed that some rebel MPs were in touch with the party because they were afraid of public discontent in their constituencies.
Darashiv MP Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar said he would announce his position after consulting his supporters and party workers in his constituency.
Nepalkar left Pune to Darashiv under heavy police guard held a meeting of party supporters and officials at Govardhanwadi village on Sunday afternoon.
A formal press conference for all six defecting MPs is expected only after Nimbakar announces his decision, which he said could come by Monday.
Read also | How the murder of 20-year-old Congress leader affected the Shiv Sena UBT crisis
The six MPs – Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patel, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchor, Nagesh Patil Ashtekar – skipped the session. Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on June 17. This led to speculation that they might join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led party has nine Lok Sabha members. Under the anti-defection law, at least six MPs, or two-thirds of a parliamentary party, must avoid disqualification in the event of a merger or split.
Ashtekar confirms shift to Shinde Sena, cites money crunch
Rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Nagesh Patil Ashtekar on Sunday confirmed that he has joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. He cited the lack of development funds for his constituency and statements he made against dissident MPs led to his decision.
Read also | In the Sena split, a tale of a tiger, a wolf and a dog digging: How Shinde and Uddhav’s parties fight using biting metaphors
In a video message, the Hingoli MP said that he and some other Sena (UBT) MPs had not taken any decision till June 18. “We are not going anywhere. However, some statements have been made against us since Thursday, making us think that there is no point in staying here (Sena – UBT),” he said, in an apparent reference to the statements made by party leader Sanjay Raut.
Ashtekar said he had not given up on his ideology: “I have not gone anywhere. I have just moved from Shiv Sena to Shiv Sena,” according to PTI.
Explaining his move, he said that his presence in the opposition affects development work in his constituency.
“The work of party workers is not done because we are not on the side of power. We elected people with a lot of expectations, and getting their work done is my job. But I did not get any development money. $The Rs 5 lakh crore of MPLAD funds is very limited.”
He alleged that despite efforts over the past two years, he was unable to secure adequate funds for his Lok Sabha constituency. “We need money, and I have taken this step. I will continue to work for the people, and I will fulfill the responsibility that the people have given me.”
Ashtekar said he was not upset with Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, but noted that party leaders’ comments influenced his decision. “I had no choice,” he said, adding that those who resented him would eventually understand his position.
Responding to Raut’s warning that the rebellious MPs may face action from angry Shiv Sena workers under ‘Operation Todwa’, Ishtekar said: “Though he is a fatherly figure and can reprimand, he should understand that every person has the power to reciprocate. Even he knows the consequences.”
Raut says the rebels are in touch with the party
Shiv Sena (UBT) Member of Rajya Sabha Sanjay Raut claimed that some dissident MPs are still in touch with the party and are concerned about public anger in their constituencies.
“Some MPs are still in touch. They are afraid because of the anger in their constituency,” Raut told reporters, according to PTI. He added that discussions are currently taking place with at least two rebel MPs.
He said the party was ready to hold talks if the MPs felt they had made a mistake.
Raut also said that the rebel MPs are still technically members of the Shiv Sena (UBT). And he said no Neither the Lok Sabha Speaker nor the Shinde-led Shiv Sena have made any official announcement regarding their status.
According to him, while the MPs violated the party whip by skipping the parliamentary session, they did not publicly announce that they were leaving the party.
Read also | ‘Division due to lack of leadership’: BJP on recent defections in Trinamool, Shiv Sena UBT
Amit Shah’s remark raises a new controversy
Raut strongly criticized the Union Home Minister Amit Shah for saying that there is now only one Shiv Sena under the leadership of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde.
Addressing a public gathering in Kolhapur on Saturday, Shah said there was no longer any faction within the Shiv Sena and the party was now led by Shinde.
Raut accused Shah of insulting the Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray and Maharashtra.
“There is only one Shiv Sena and it is headed by Uddhav Thackeray,” he said.
Offer notices, and possible disqualification
The party has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the six representatives. Chief Whip Anil Desai issued fresh show-cause notices, giving them 24 hours to explain their absence from the parliamentary party meeting. The notices warned that failure to respond would be treated as voluntary renunciation of party membership. This is likely to attract action under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
Lok Sabha member Arvind Sawant said none of the six MPs responded to the notices issued on June 18, according to PTI. The party’s next step could be to approach the Lok Sabha Speaker Perla’s mother seeks to be disqualified for challenging the whip.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders continued their efforts to convince the MPs to stay. MLA Kailas Patil and Varun Sardesai met Nimbalkar at his residence in Pune early on Sunday and conveyed a message from the party chief Uddhav Thackeray.
“We are confident that Umraji will stay with us,” Patel told reporters after the meeting.
Aditya Thackeray also extended an olive branch, saying those who wish to return are welcome as Uddhav Thackeray had a “big heart”. However, he warned that action would be taken against those who ultimately chose to stand against the party.
Security cover for the rebel MPs
Amid rising political tensions and reported threats from some party workers, Maharashtra Police offered assistance Y-Plus security cover for all six defected MPs with immediate effect.
The Y-Plus category includes an 11-person security detail.
Nimbalkar traveled to Darashiv under police guard after security arrangements were tightened around his residence in Pune.
Nimbalkar links the future decision to this
Before leaving Pune, Nepalkar said he would first listen to the views of people in his constituency before deciding his future political path.
“I will hold a meeting with people and party officials and then explain my position,” he said.
He asserted that he would not speak against Uddhav Thackeray or Aaditya Thackeray and admitted that leaders from both sides were in touch with him.
Nepalkar also said he would appeal in the Supreme Court a special court ruling that acquitted former NCP minister Padamsinh Patel and seven others in the 2006 murder case of his father, Congress leader Pawanrajhi Nepalkar.
The MP had earlier rejected Sanjay Raut’s allegations that he was under pressure through the legal case to change his political stances.
A war of words between Raut and the BJP
The political battle also escalated with a heated exchange between Sanjay Raut and Maharashtra Minister Girish Mahajan.
Mahajan taunted Raut by pointing out that it was only a matter of time before it happened n central agencies e.g The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) visited him.
Uddhav also accused Thackeray of losing the trust of party workers and leaders.
Raut responded by claiming that central agencies had been repeatedly used for political purposes and launched a personal attack on Mahajan, alleging that BJP leaders were afraid to conduct investigations themselves.
DK Shivakumar meets Uddhav Thackeray
Karnataka CM DK Shivakumar met Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree in Mumbai on Saturday. Rashmi Thackeray, Aditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut were also present.
Shivakumar later said the leaders exchanged views on matters of public concern. The meeting sparked speculation about closer ties between the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Congress, especially amid reports of “Operation Tiger” and possible defections.
However, Uddhav Thackeray recently ruled out any merger of the Shiv Sena with the Congress.
Read also | A look back at the Shiv Sena’s 60-year political journey: Bal Thackeray’s rise, Uddhav’s rise to power and then the split
BJP rejects accusations of engineering mutiny
The BJP has denied allegations that it is organizing rebellions within opposition parties, including the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the BJP. Trinamool Congress.
Senior BJP leaders said the developments reflect leadership crises within those parties and not any role played by the ruling party.
According to BJP leaders, many Shiv Sena workers and legislators felt disconnected from the party leadership and were unhappy with Uddhav Thackeray’s alliance with the Congress.
The BJP asserted that the defections were driven by concerns about the political future, leadership style and organizational performance.
However, Uddhav Thackeray accused the BJP of trying to poach MPs to boost the NDA’s numbers in Parliament and secure support for future legislation that requires a large parliamentary majority.
