Six to seven of the nine Lok Sabha MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) are reportedly planning to leave the party [1, 2].
This potential exodus threatens to dismantle the legislative strength of Uddhav Thackeray's faction in the national parliament. A mass defection to Eknath Shinde's ruling Shiv Sena camp would consolidate power for the current Maharashtra administration and further marginalize the UBT opposition.
Reports indicate that between six and seven MPs are inclined to switch allegiances [1]. Other sources said that seven of the nine MPs are set to desert the party [2].
Two rebel MPs have already arrived in Delhi [2]. Those members are identified as Bhausaheb Wakchaure of Shirdi and Sanjay Deshmukh of Yavatmal [2].
This movement follows growing discontent within the political landscape of Maharashtra. Sanjay Raut, a leader within the party, has previously addressed the dynamics of the Shinde camp [3].
The shift comes amid speculation of a fresh power shift in the state's political hierarchy [1, 3]. The arrival of the two MPs in the national capital signals an immediate escalation of the crisis facing Thackeray's leadership [2].
“Six to seven of the nine Lok Sabha MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) are reportedly planning to leave the party.”
The reported defection of a majority of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs would represent a critical blow to Uddhav Thackeray's political viability. By shifting to the Eknath Shinde camp, these lawmakers would not only weaken the opposition's voice in the Lok Sabha but also reinforce the legitimacy of the Shinde-led faction as the primary representative of the Shiv Sena brand in Maharashtra.
