Union Home Minister Amit Shah said there is now only one Shiv Sena, which is led by Eknath Shinde [1].
This declaration comes during a period of intense political instability in Maharashtra. By dismissing the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray, Shah is signaling the central government's recognition of the Shinde-led group as the legitimate heir to the party's identity and assets.
The statement follows reports of a rebellion within the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction. Six UBT Sena MPs have written to the Lok Sabha Speaker to seek separate recognition as a bloc in Parliament [2]. This move creates a significant rift within the Thackeray-led group, which currently holds a total of nine Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MPs [2].
Shah's comments align with the ongoing political buzz surrounding "Operation Tiger" in Maharashtra. The Home Minister used the occasion to underscore the unity of the party under Shinde and to criticize the legitimacy of the opposition faction [2].
"Only one Shiv Sena now," Shah said [1].
The dispute over the party name and symbol has remained a central conflict in Maharashtra state politics. The current rebellion by the six MPs suggests that the internal cohesion of the UBT faction is fracturing, further strengthening the position of the Shinde-led administration.
“"Only one Shiv Sena now"”
The Home Minister's statement effectively delegitimizes Uddhav Thackeray's claim to the Shiv Sena brand. By acknowledging the rebellion of six out of nine UBT MPs, the central government is highlighting a collapse of support for the Thackeray faction, likely paving the way for the Shinde-led group to consolidate total control over the party's political infrastructure in Maharashtra.
