Six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs skipped a crucial parliamentary party meeting on Thursday [1].

This absence signals a potential collapse of the party's parliamentary strength and a shift in power toward the rival Shinde faction. Because the party relies on these seats for legislative influence, a mass defection could marginalize the UBT faction in the Lok Sabha.

Sanjay Raut, a leader within the Shiv Sena (UBT), said the situation was "kidnapping and hijacking people" [2]. The party has responded to the boycott by initiating disqualification proceedings against the absent members. The rebel MPs have been given seven days to respond to the notice [3].

While the UBT leadership frames the absence as a breach of discipline, other political figures suggest the move is a formal alignment with the opposition. Chandrakant Raghuvanshi, a member of the legislative council, said six MPs from Sena (UBT) have joined the Shinde faction [2].

The internal turmoil follows a period of disagreement regarding the party's relationship with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The sudden absence of six members [1] from the total pool of nine [1] suggests a coordinated move by the majority of the party's parliamentary representatives.

This development adds to the ongoing instability within the Shiv Sena, which has been divided by leadership disputes and legal battles over the party name and symbol. The UBT faction now faces the immediate threat of losing its core representation in New Delhi as the seven-day deadline [3] for the rebel MPs approaches.

“Six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs skipped a crucial parliamentary party meeting”

The potential loss of six MPs would leave the Shiv Sena (UBT) with only three members in the Lok Sabha, effectively stripping the faction of its ability to act as a significant parliamentary bloc. This move likely strengthens the Shinde faction's leverage and reflects the ongoing volatility of Maharashtra's political alliances, where legislative loyalty often shifts toward the ruling coalition to ensure political survival.