18 June,2026 02:31 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Sanjay Raut. Pic/PTI
Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday initiated disciplinary action against six Lok Sabha MPs who skipped a crucial parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi, with senior leader Sanjay Raut warning that the party would move towards seeking their disqualification for violating the whip.
The development marks a major escalation in the internal crisis within the Uddhav Thackeray-led party amid growing speculation that a section of its MPs is preparing to align with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The parliamentary party meeting was convened at the party's Parliament office at 11 am after a three-line whip was issued directing all MPs to attend.
According to party leaders, only three Lok Sabha MPs - Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje - attended the meeting.
Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was also present.
The absence of six MPs has intensified speculation about a possible split, as the number constitutes two-thirds of the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s strength in the Lok Sabha.
The party leadership has treated the absence as a violation of its official whip and has begun disciplinary proceedings.
Addressing reporters after the meeting, Raut said the process of taking action against the absent MPs had already begun.
"In our parliamentary party office, our Lok Sabha leader Arvind Sawant and our Chief Whip Anil Desai called a meeting of the MPs at 11 am today. Three Lok Sabha MPs were present: Arvind Sawantji, Rajabhau Waje, and Anil Desai. I am a Rajya Sabha member, but this meeting was important for the Lok Sabha. Those members who did not attend this meeting we consider it a violation of the party whip. They have not followed the party's orders. So, the process for taking action has started," Raut said.
He further indicated that the party intends to pursue stronger measures if the explanations provided by the MPs are found unsatisfactory.
Raut said the absent lawmakers would first be asked to explain why they failed to attend despite receiving formal communication from the party.
"They will be given a show-cause notice, answers will be sought, and we will move towards disqualifying their membership. They met the Speaker yesterday and asked to merge. We met the Speaker too - myself, Arvind Sawant, and Anil Desai. Our photo was also published. If those six people met him, show their faces. They call it strategy, we call it betrayal, dishonesty, conspiracy, and fraud," he said.
The remarks reflected the party leadership's growing anger over reports that a section of MPs may be seeking recognition as a separate group.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai confirmed that show-cause notices had already been issued to all absent MPs.
"The meeting just got over, show-cause notice was sent today," Desai said.
Asked about the nature of the action being taken, he replied, "Action is this only: show-cause notice. Why didn't you come? That will be asked. Notice will be given to everyone who didn't come."
Desai added that the notices would specifically seek explanations for the MPs' absence despite repeated communication from the party.
"Questions will be like: you were informed, you were messaged, you were WhatsApped, you received it too. And you didn't give any reason if you were coming or not, so your absence will be looked at that way," he said.
Raut launched a sharp attack on the dissident MPs, accusing them of betraying the party that had helped them get elected.
"You are still party members. You won the election on our party's name and symbol. If you violate the whip, legal action will follow. You can see on TV, people are out on the streets in the constituencies of these people. This time, betrayal will cost Eknath Shinde and these traitors dearly. BJP will also have to pay a price for dirtying politics. Arvind Sawant is preparing the documentation for the disqualification letter," he said.
The Rajya Sabha MP maintained that the party would pursue legal and political action against any attempt to split the organisation.
The developments come amid persistent reports of an alleged "Operation Tiger," under which several Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are believed to be in touch with leaders of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
While no MP has publicly announced a switch, the absence of six lawmakers from the parliamentary meeting has significantly intensified speculation over the future of the party's Lok Sabha unit.
With show-cause notices now issued and the leadership preparing for possible disqualification proceedings, the confrontation between the Uddhav Thackeray camp and the dissident MPs appears set to move into a legal and political battle in the coming days.
(With inputs from ANI)
