22 June,2026 05:54 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Six rebel MPs of the Shiv Sena (UBT) join the Eknath Shinde-headed Shiv Sena in Mumbai on Monday. PIC/SAYYED SAMEER ABEDI
In a major political setback for Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), six of its nine Lok Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs) have joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, significantly altering the party's strength in Parliament.
The MPs who switched sides are Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv), Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli), Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim), Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure (Shirdi), and Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East).
With this, the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s strength in the Lok Sabha has come down from nine MPs to three, while the Shinde faction's tally has increased from seven to 13. The three MPs who continue to remain with Uddhav Thackeray are Arvind Sawant from Mumbai South, Anil Desai from Mumbai South Central and Rajabhau Waje from Nashik.
Signs of the split had emerged earlier when six MPs skipped a parliamentary party meeting convened by party chief Uddhav Thackeray in Delhi. The rebel MPs subsequently submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition as a separate group. Since the group comprises two-thirds of the parliamentary party, the move is expected to fall within the provisions of the anti-defection law.
Speaking about the reasons behind their decision, Nagesh Ashtikar and Omraje Nimbalkar said remaining in the Opposition had affected development work in their constituencies. They argued that the Rs 5 crore MPLAD allocation was insufficient and that the absence of support from the state government had limited their ability to carry out grassroots development initiatives.
In a Facebook Live session, Ashtikar said he did not hold any personal grudge against Uddhav Thackeray. However, he criticised the "harsh, abusive language" and lack of trust shown by senior leaders, including Sanjay Raut, after the MPs skipped the Delhi meeting.
Nimbalkar's decision to join the Shinde faction comes shortly after a sessions court acquitted all accused in the murder case of his father, Pawanraje Nimbalkar. He claimed that Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis facilitated a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured him that the CBI would challenge the acquittal on merit.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray has launched an outreach campaign to contain the political fallout, beginning with visits to constituencies represented by the rebel MPs, including Yavatmal, Washim and Hingoli. He accused the defectors of "selling themselves after increasing their value post-election."
The entry of the six MPs into the Shinde camp is being seen as a significant boost for the ruling faction, strengthening its claim as the political heir to Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy and further consolidating the Mahayuti alliance's position in Maharashtra politics.
(With IANS inputs)
