Shiv Sena crisis LIVE: Thackeray-led Shiv Sena stares at split as rebel MPs meet Lok Sabha speaker
New Delhi: A group of rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders is learnt to have met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday, claiming the support of six of the party's nine MPs in the Lower House, sources said.
While there was no official word from either side on what transpired during the meeting, Uddhav Thackeray loyalist and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said the party had not received any communication from anyone planning to switch to the ruling Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
According to sources, there is talk that six MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray faction (UBT) are in contact with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The MPs are Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Sanjay Jadhav.
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"The Shiv Sena (UBT) is a big party and is dependent on the shoulders of party workers and not leaders. It will grow at an even faster pace than earlier. People know the reason why they are going even when ruling parties have numbers," says Rahul Patil, Shiv Sena MLA from Parbhani district.
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Raut alleges MPs are being offered ₹50 crore to defect
Senior party leader and MP Sanjay Raut alleged that some MPs from Maharashtra were being offered Rs 50 crore to switch sides, and challenged dissidents to quit.
#WATCH | Delhi | Amid speculations of split in Shiv Sena UBT, party MP Sanjay Raut says, "If anyone wants to go, they can resign and leave. If such reports emerge about our MPs, then they should refute them. This time, the people of Maharashtra will not remain silent." pic.twitter.com/5UljgWOu0O
— ANI (@ANI) June 17, 2026 -
"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. The discretion lies with the speaker. So if a group claiming to have two-thirds support approaches to merge with another party, that group cannot be recognised under the rules as only the original party can merge under the provisions. Even if there are six MPs, it does not matter," said Anil Desai.
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Three Uddhav loyalist MPs approach LS speaker
Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai, along with Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. They urged the speaker to guard against any unlawful defection.
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Congress slams rebels
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said the "six rebel MPs" were betraying the entire MVA alliance of the Congress, Sena (UBT) and NCP (SP).
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