In a major political development, the parliamentary wing of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has witnessed a significant split, with six of its nine Lok Sabha Members of Parliament reportedly breaking away from the party.
The rebel MPs are said to have approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition as a separate group in Parliament. Sources indicate that the legislators are inclined to align themselves with the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, further deepening the divide within the Shiv Sena.The crisis became apparent when only three MPs attended a parliamentary meeting convened by the Thackeray camp despite a party whip. Party leaders have termed the move an act of indiscipline and have issued show-cause notices to the rebel members. The dissident MPs have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the party’s current political direction and alleged that it has drifted away from the ideology traditionally associated with Shiv Sena.
The Thackeray faction, however, has rejected these claims and accused rival forces of attempting to weaken the party.Political observers believe the development could have far-reaching consequences for the opposition alliance in Maharashtra and may strengthen the position of the Shinde-led faction at the national level.The latest split marks another challenge for Uddhav Thackeray, who has been striving to rebuild the party after the major rebellion led by Eknath Shinde in 2022.
