Senior leaders of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) were unable to reach several of the party's Lok Sabha MPs on June 16, 2026 [1].
The communication breakdown suggests potential instability within the party ranks. If a significant number of lawmakers are unreachable, it could signal a coordinated effort to distance themselves from the party leadership or a prelude to a political shift.
According to reports, the party's senior leadership attempted to contact the members of parliament by telephone but found the devices were switched off [1], [2]. This lack of accessibility has prompted the party to shift its primary focus toward Delhi [1], [2].
Political observers said the situation is fueling speculation of internal dissent within the Shiv Sena (UBT) [2]. The party leadership has reportedly been attempting to persuade the MPs to remain aligned with the party's current direction.
The events are unfolding across the party's base in Maharashtra and the national capital [3]. The sudden silence from the lawmakers has created a vacuum of information, leaving the party to manage the situation from the political hub of Delhi [1], [3].
While the party has not released a formal statement regarding the specific number of missing MPs, the shift in strategic focus to the capital indicates that the leadership views the matter as a national-level coordination issue rather than a local administrative problem [1], [2].
“Senior leaders have been unable to reach some of the party's Lok Sabha MPs by telephone.”
The inability of party leadership to contact their own lawmakers often precedes a formal split or a defection in Indian politics. By shifting their focus to Delhi, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is likely attempting to identify if external political actors are influencing the MPs or if a coordinated group is negotiating a new alignment away from Uddhav Thackeray's leadership.
