New Delhi: Political uncertainty has intensified within the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) camp, with reports suggesting that a group of its Lok Sabha MPs may be preparing to separate from the party’s parliamentary group and align with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
At least five of the party’s nine Lok Sabha members are believed to have sought an appointment with Speaker Om Birla, a move that has triggered speculation about a possible split in the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.
The development comes days after these MPs remained absent from a meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray at his Mumbai residence, raising questions about internal differences within the party’s parliamentary wing.
In response to the growing uncertainty, Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting of Shiv Sena UBT’s parliamentary party in Delhi on June 19. All party MPs have been directed to attend the meeting as the leadership attempts to assess the situation and maintain unity.
Sources indicate that the MPs seeking an audience with the Speaker may request recognition as an independent group in the Lok Sabha and express support for the NDA. Such a move would mark another major setback for the Thackeray faction, which has already faced a split in Maharashtra politics.
The possible developments are also being viewed in the context of the ruling alliance’s efforts to strengthen its numbers in Parliament. The government has been seeking wider support to reach the required two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha for certain legislative moves, including the proposed women’s reservation legislation linked with the delimitation exercise.
At present, the NDA has 293 members in the Lok Sabha. If rebel members from other parties are recognised as separate groups supporting the government, the alliance’s strength could increase further. The inclusion of potential Shiv Sena UBT defectors along with reported support from other breakaway groups could push the NDA closer to its target.
The Lok Sabha currently has an effective strength of 540 members due to three vacancies, making the two-thirds threshold stand at 360 seats. The ruling alliance has also been holding discussions with other regional parties to expand its support base.
The latest developments mirror the recent split witnessed in the Trinamool Congress, where a group of MPs moved away from the parent party. Political observers say the situation in Shiv Sena UBT could become another significant test of party unity and parliamentary recognition rules.
For the Thackeray-led faction, the coming days are expected to be crucial as it works to prevent further erosion of its parliamentary strength ahead of the party’s scheduled meeting in the national capital.
