In a major setback for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday recognised the merger of six rebel Members of Parliament with the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The Speaker’s decision formally recognises the six parliamentarians as members of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha, bringing to an end the parliamentary process initiated after they sought approval for their merger with the ruling faction.
The six MPs are Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, and Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar.
The MPs had broken away from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) nearly a month ago and submitted an application to the Lok Sabha Secretariat seeking formal recognition of their merger with the Shinde faction. Following the Speaker’s approval, they will now officially function as members of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Lower House.
The development increases the strength of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha to 13 MPs, further consolidating the faction’s parliamentary presence.
The merger had faced objections from the Uddhav Thackeray camp, which argued that the move did not satisfy the legal requirement under the Tenth Schedule regarding a merger, contending that it lacked the support of the requisite two-thirds of the party’s organisational structure.
Responding to these objections earlier, Eknath Shinde had maintained that the matter was within the jurisdiction of the Lok Sabha Speaker and asserted that his faction had followed the due legal process while seeking recognition.
The Speaker’s decision is being viewed as a significant political boost for the Shinde faction, which has emerged as the recognised Shiv Sena following the party’s split. It also adds to the challenges facing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), which has been attempting to retain its political and organisational base after the division within the party.
The timing of the decision is considered significant as it comes just ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, scheduled to commence on July 20, giving the Shinde faction greater numerical strength and formal recognition in the Lok Sabha.
With the Speaker’s approval, the six MPs are now officially recognised as members of the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, further reinforcing the faction’s position in Parliament.
