Uddhav Sena summons all MPs for crucial Delhi meeting today amid split buzz

The emergency meeting comes a day after it was reported that the Uddhav Sena rebels had claimed the support of six of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs and reached out to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, triggering a fresh political storm in Maharashtra.

In Short

• Shiv Sena (UBT) to hold crucial MPs meeting amid split rumours
• Rebel faction claims support of six out of nine Lok Sabha MPs
• Rebels met Lok Sabha Speaker, citing anti-defection law protection

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) will hold a high-stakes meeting of its MPs today amid intensifying speculation of a fresh split within the party, with reports suggesting a group of rebel lawmakers may be preparing to align with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena.

The emergency huddle comes a day after reports emerged that a rebel faction had claimed the support of six of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs and reached out to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, triggering a fresh political storm in Maharashtra.

In a bid to prevent a repeat of the 2022 Shinde rebellion, the Uddhav camp has summoned all nine of its MPs to the meeting in Delhi at 11 am and issued a three-line whip directing them to attend in person.

Party leaders have warned that disciplinary action could be initiated against any MP who fails to turn up.

The high-stakes meeting is expected to determine whether Uddhav Thackeray retains control over his parliamentary party or faces another damaging split, four years after Shinde's 2022 rebellion brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Adding to the speculation, sources claimed a group of rebel Sena (UBT) MPs informally met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday and asserted that they have the support of six of the party's nine MPs — the crucial two-thirds mark required to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.

The development came amid what Shiv Sena sources described as a meticulously planned "Operation Tiger", allegedly overseen by Eknath Shinde during his stay in Delhi.

According to sources, Shinde has now returned to Mumbai and has chosen not to speak publicly on the developments.

The sources claimed the operation was executed without hurdles, but said the formal induction of the MPs has been deliberately delayed by two to three days while legal and technical aspects are scrutinised.

No public announcement would be made immediately and the party intends to closely monitor the Uddhav Sena's legal strategy before taking the next step, they said, adding that a formal announcement of any crossover is now expected around June 20 or 21, sources said.

According to the same sources, the six MPs have been moved out of Delhi and are being kept away from public view until the legal groundwork is completed.

The unfolding drama prompted Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai to meet Speaker Om Birla and submit a representation urging him not to recognise any "unlawful" defection.

Desai argued that even if a group commands the support of two-thirds of MPs, legal provisions favour the original party organisation.

"Under the law, one cannot simply merge with a party even if they have the support of two-thirds of the MPs. Only the original party can merge if a group has the required two-thirds strength," he said after meeting the Speaker.

Raut maintained that the party had not received any formal communication from MPs planning to switch sides, but acknowledged that several lawmakers had become unreachable.

"Things will become clear after Thursday's meeting," he said.

The crisis became visible during Raut's fiery press conference in Delhi on Wednesday. Of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs, only Sawant, Desai and Rajabhau Waje appeared alongside him.

The missing lawmakers include Sanjay Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Sanjay Jadhav.

After unleashing a string of expletives and describing the rebel MPs as beimaan (betrayers), Raut urged reporters not to beep out his abuses.

"These s*** bh**** should leave...don't cut," he said, adding that "betrayal is in their blood."

Earlier, Raut also levelled explosive allegations of horse-trading, claiming an "important person" had informed him that attempts were being made to lure MPs with massive financial inducements.

"I was told that the rate is Rs 50 crore and that Rs 15 crore each would be delivered by tonight. They were allegedly unwilling to board the aircraft without receiving the money," the Sena (UBT) MP alleged.

He further claimed that pressure tactics were being used against some lawmakers and cited the case of Osmanabad MP Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, alleging he was promised a favourable outcome in a long-pending case if he joined the rival camp.

The Shinde camp has dismissed the allegations, with sources arguing that Sena (UBT)'s public attacks have only alienated the rebel MPs further.

- Ends
(With PTI inputs)