Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Skip Meeting, Set Stage for Switch to Shinde Camp

Shiv Sena (UBT) suffered a major setback on Thursday after six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs skipped a key parliamentary party meeting, fuelling speculation of their imminent switch to the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde .

The meeting was attended by Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, Rajabhau Waje , and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut . The absent MPs were Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, and Bhausaheb Wakchaure .

Following the meeting, Sawant said the party would issue show-cause notices to the six MPs for ignoring a three-line whip directing them to attend. They will be given seven days to respond, failing which the party will approach Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking their disqualification.

Sources said the six MPs have signed a letter seeking a merger with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and submitted it to the Speaker. The process is still underway, with signature verification ongoing and some MPs expected to appear before the Speaker's office for confirmation.

Raut strongly criticised the absent lawmakers, calling them "traitors" and warning of political consequences. He also maintained that legal action was being initiated against them.

The dispute has triggered a debate over the anti-defection law . While Shiv Sena (UBT) argues the MPs violated the party whip, the Shinde camp contends that such whips carry legal consequences only during House proceedings and voting, not internal party meetings.

The development marks a fresh challenge for Uddhav Thackeray's party and could reshape its parliamentary strength if the proposed merger receives official recognition.