Shiv Sena (UBT) rebellion buzz: Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai meet Lok Sabha Speaker

Shiv Sena UBT leaders Sanjay Raut Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday and urged him to adhere strictly to constitutional provisions if any group of MPs approaches him seeking recognition amid speculation of a possible split within the partyThe meeting comes as political discussions intensify over reports that a section of Shiv Sena UBT MPs may be considering breaking away from the Uddhav Thackerayled party However no MP has publicly announced a decision to leave the organisationParty leaders seek Speakers interventionFollowing the meeting at Parliament House the three leaders said they had submitted a representation to the Speaker outlining the partys position on any potential split or mergerRajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said the Speaker assured them that any decision taken in the matter would be guided by constitutional provisions parliamentary rules and established proceduresWATCH Delhi After meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Shiv Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut says The Speaker is a respectable person for us We regard him He assured that the law and rules and regulations will be kept in mind in the matter pictwittercomWOEOgSGLSGmdash ANI ANI June 17 2026The Speaker is a respected person for us He assured us that the law rules and regulations would be kept in mind Raut told reporters after the meetingThe interaction is being seen as part of the partys efforts to prevent any possible breakaway group from seeking recognition in ParliamentSawant says no MP has officially declared exitLok Sabha MP Arvind Sawant said he informed the Speaker that no Shiv Sena UBT MP had officially communicated any intention to leave the partyWATCH Delhi After meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Shiv Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant says I told the Speaker that no one has said that they are leaving the party yet If anyone comes to him the Constitution should be followed No individual group can get recognitionhellip pictwittercomNBEpEUT4Y5mdash ANI ANI June 17 2026I told the Speaker that no one has said that they are leaving the party yet If anyone approaches him the Constitution should be followed Sawant saidHe reiterated the partys legal position that individual groups of lawmakers cannot independently seek recognition as a separate political entityAccording to Sawant constitutional provisions allow for the merger of political parties but do not provide for a group of MPs to secure recognition as a separate faction merely on the basis of numbersAnil Desai reiterates partys constitutional argumentLok Sabha MP Anil Desai said the party had formally requested the Speaker to inform Shiv Sena UBT if any group approached his office with claims regarding a split or mergerWATCH Delhi After meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla Shiv Sena UBT MP Anil Desai says We have given a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker stating that if any group comes to him he should first let us know Only a party can merge there is no provision for a group to mergehellip pictwittercomMHcXrCpcKKmdash ANI ANI June 17 2026Desai maintained that the antidefection framework and constitutional provisions recognise mergers involving political parties rather than individual groups of legislators acting independentlyWe have given a letter to the Speaker requesting that if any group approaches him we should first be informed Only a party can merge there is no provision for a group to merge with another party he saidThe partys position is based on its interpretation of constitutional provisions governing defections and mergers in legislaturesRaut warns MPs against defectionEarlier in the day Raut launched a strong attack on lawmakers allegedly considering leaving the party and challenged them to resign before switching sidesAddressing a press conference alongside Sawant and Desai he said any MP planning to leave should first return the mandate received from votersIf anyone wants to leave they should resign and go If such reports about our MPs are incorrect then they should publicly deny them Raut saidThe Rajya Sabha member argued that the MPs had been elected on the partys symbol and therefore owed their positions to the leadership workers and voters who supported themDesai later clarified that some of Rauts emotional remarks should not be interpreted as personal attacks on any specific individualAllegations and political speculation continueRaut also repeated allegations that money was being offered to MPs to encourage defections Without providing evidence he claimed that some lawmakers had received financial inducements and travelled on chartered aircraft arranged for political purposesThe allegations come amid persistent reports of an alleged Operation Tiger aimed at attracting Shiv Sena UBT MPs to the Eknath Shindeled Shiv SenaPolitical speculation has intensified because of reports suggesting that several of the partys nine Lok Sabha MPs may be in contact with leaders from the rival faction However the Shiv Sena UBT leadership has consistently maintained that no official split has taken placeThe party has called a meeting of all its Lok Sabha MPs in New Delhi on June 18 where leaders are expected to assess the political situation and discuss the way forwardWith the parliamentary party meeting approaching and uncertainty continuing over the loyalty of some MPs the developments are being closely watched as a potential test of Uddhav Thackerays hold over the partys parliamentary wingWith inputs from ANI