Mumbai: In a serious political setback for Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, six of his nine Lok Sabha MPs are expected to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena around 3 p.m. on Monday, according to media reports.
Anticipating the move, the UBT has summoned all its MLAs and MLCs to a meeting at 2.30 pm in Mumbai, where Uddhav is expected to personally address the leaders and take stock of the situation.
Sources close to the development say the six UBT MPs are likely to formally merge with the Shinde faction as a separate parliamentary group. By doing so, the rebel bloc will reach the two-thirds strength required under the anti-defection law, which would protect them from disqualification.
The Shinde faction is reportedly set to circulate photographs and video footage of the MPs meeting the Lok Sabha Speaker later in the day, presenting them as proof that “Operation Tiger” has been fully accomplished.
The MPs who did not attend the UBT parliamentary party gathering on June 17 are Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar.
On Sunday, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar openly declared their decision to shift to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, citing persistent criticism from UBT leaders as the reason for their move, while affirming that they have not abandoned their ideology.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Eknath Shinde suggested that “Operation Tiger” has achieved success and held Uddhav responsible for the crisis. Uddhav, meanwhile, labeled the developments a “sin of the BJP” and maintained that his faction remains the “real Shiv Sena”.
