17 June,2026 02:49 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Rajabhau Waje. Pic/X
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Rajabhau Waje on Wednesday dismissed speculation about divisions within the party and reaffirmed his loyalty to party chief Uddhav Thackeray amid growing rumours of a possible rebellion by some parliamentarians, reported ANI.
The Nashik Lok Sabha MP said he remains firmly with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and denied having any contact with leaders from the rival Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
His statement comes at a time when political discussions in Maharashtra are dominated by reports that a section of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs may be considering a switch to the ruling camp.
Speaking to ANI after arriving in New Delhi, Waje made it clear that he has no plans to leave the party.
"I am with Uddhav ji and will remain with him. I have no contacts with anyone else. I have not received any call, and no contact has been established with me by Shinde ji. I am not upset, and I am with Shiv Sena (UBT)," he told ANI.
The clarification comes amid intense speculation that several MPs from the party could be exploring alternative political options. Waje's remarks are likely to be viewed as a boost for the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership, which has been attempting to counter rumours of an impending split.
Waje also sought to dispel speculation surrounding his visit to the national capital, stating that he had travelled to Delhi for official parliamentary business.
"I have come here for a committee meeting," the MP said, rejecting suggestions that his visit was connected to political negotiations or discussions regarding a possible realignment.
His arrival in Delhi had attracted attention because of ongoing reports that several Sena (UBT) MPs were in the capital amid the political uncertainty.
Commenting on the emergency meeting convened by Uddhav Thackeray earlier this week, Waje said only a handful of leaders were physically present while others participated virtually.
According to him, four MPs attended the meeting in person, while five others joined through video conferencing.
The meeting was called amid increasing speculation about possible defections and was seen as an effort by the party leadership to gauge support within its parliamentary ranks.
Party leaders have since maintained that the meeting demonstrated continued communication between the leadership and its MPs.
When questioned about reports suggesting that some MPs could break away and whether dissidents had the numbers required to form a separate group, Waje declined to comment.
He said he was not aware of the latest developments and suggested that media reports were moving faster than the information available to him.
"I don't know yet. I have just arrived and am still travelling. I am not aware of the latest developments," he said.
His cautious response reflects the uncertainty surrounding the situation, as no MP has publicly confirmed plans to leave the party despite persistent speculation.
Maharashtra's political landscape has been dominated by discussions around an alleged "Operation Tiger," with reports suggesting that several Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs may be in contact with leaders from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The speculation has drawn comparisons with the 2022 rebellion that split the undivided Shiv Sena and led to a major political realignment in the state.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has continued to attack alleged attempts to engineer defections. In a post on X, he sarcastically claimed that the "Minimum Support Price" for an MP had been fixed at Rs 50 crore and that Rs 15 crore was merely an advance payment.
The remarks were made while responding to a social media post by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who had commented on reports of alleged monetary inducements being offered to lawmakers.
While the political speculation continues, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders insist that no official split has occurred and that the party remains united under Uddhav Thackeray's leadership. Attention is now focused on upcoming meetings of the party's parliamentary wing, which could provide greater clarity on the evolving situation.
(With inputs from ANI)
