Mumbai: After days of speculation, the switch of six Lok Sabha MPs from one Shiv Sena group to the other was formalised on Monday.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, flanked by the six Shiv Sena (UBT) rebels — Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh and Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar – announced their induction into Shinde Sena at a press conference.
This is the second body blow for Uddhav Thackeray after Shinde himself led a revolt in 2022, with 40 out of 55 Shiv Sena MLAs forming a bloc and joining the NDA. It led to the fall of the MVA government headed by then-CM Uddhav.
Hours before the latest rebellion, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut targeted Shinde with a ‘pregnant’ jibe.
Raut, known for his loose mouth and controversial comments, said Shinde had been “pregnant” and had now “delivered six MPs.”
“Eknath Shinde was pregnant and has delivered six MPs. The delivery happened at Nandanvan,” Raut said.
A few days earlier, Raut had vent his frustration by using abusive language against his party rebels.
Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP, landed in a soup after repeatedly using the word “ga**u” while referring to those who skipped UBT Sena’s Delhi meeting and planned to defect.
Raut even defended his comment later.
“Those traitors, those dishonest people in society and in politics, the traitors and dishonest people, one should use exactly that kind of language for them,” Raut said, adding that leaders who betrayed their parties, irrespective of political affiliation, deserved similar treatment.
‘We have hit a six’
An ecstatic Shinde welcomed the six Sena UBT Lok Sabha MPs into his faction.
“Not one, but six tigers are present here with me today. We have hit a six this time,” Shinde said at the press conference.
He said the 2022 rebellion was to protect the party’s saffron ideology and its ‘bow and arrow’ symbol. As for the “second revolt”, Shinde claimed it reflected growing support for his leadership and the party’s ideological stance.
Before Shinde announced the joining of six Sena UBT MPs, Uddhav went into a huddle with the remaining leaders who have been loyal to him.
