"Will move to disqualify their membership": Sanjay Raut warns 6 rebel MPs

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 whipThe development marks a major escalation in the internal crisis within the Uddhav Thackerayled party amid growing speculation that a section of its MPs is preparing to align with the Eknath Shindeled Shiv SenaThe parliamentary party meeting was convened at the partys Parliament office at 11 am after a threeline whip was issued directing all MPs to attendSix MPs skip meeting despite whipAccording to party leaders only three Lok Sabha MPs mdash Arvind Sawant Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje mdash attended the meetingRajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut was also presentThe absence of six MPs has intensified speculation about a possible split as the number constitutes twothirds of the Shiv Sena UBTs strength in the Lok SabhaThe party leadership has treated the absence as a violation of its official whip and has begun disciplinary proceedingsRaut warns of disqualification actionAddressing reporters after the meeting Raut said the process of taking action against the absent MPs had already begunIn 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 partys orders So the process for taking action has started Raut saidHe further indicated that the party intends to pursue stronger measures if the explanations provided by the MPs are found unsatisfactoryShowcause notices issued to absentee MPsRaut said the absent lawmakers would first be asked to explain why they failed to attend despite receiving formal communication from the partyThey will be given a showcause 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 saidThe remarks reflected the party leaderships growing anger over reports that a section of MPs may be seeking recognition as a separate groupDesai confirms disciplinary processShiv Sena UBT MP Anil Desai confirmed that showcause notices had already been issued to all absent MPsThe meeting just got over showcause notice was sent today Desai saidAsked about the nature of the action being taken he replied Action is this only showcause notice Why didnt you come That will be asked Notice will be given to everyone who didnt comeDesai added that the notices would specifically seek explanations for the MPs absence despite repeated communication from the partyQuestions will be like you were informed you were messaged you were WhatsApped you received it too And you didnt give any reason if you were coming or not so your absence will be looked at that way he saidRaut attacks rebels and Shinde campRaut launched a sharp attack on the dissident MPs accusing them of betraying the party that had helped them get electedYou are still party members You won the election on our partys 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 saidThe Rajya Sabha MP maintained that the party would pursue legal and political action against any attempt to split the organisationPolitical uncertainty deepensThe 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 Shindeled Shiv SenaWhile 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 partys Lok Sabha unitWith showcause 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 daysWith inputs from ANI