Reports suggest a potential split within Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), with five of its nine Lok Sabha MPs reportedly staying away from a crucial party meeting, raising speculation of a breakaway faction. This follows MP Sanjay Deshmukh's meeting with a Shinde faction leader, though he downplayed its significance. The absence of these MPs from key events, including Aditya Thackeray's birthday, further fuels the rumors, which Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut has dismissed as baseless, asserting that all MPs remain loyal and in touch with Uddhav Thackeray. In response, Uddhav Thackeray is actively engaged in damage control, reassuring party workers and office bearers and urging the absent MPs to explain their non-attendance, while also strategizing to retain grassroots support even if some MPs defect, a situation echoed by a Shinde faction leader who alluded to the possibility of MPs aligning with Eknath Shinde for their constituencies.

Reports suggest a potential split within Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), with five of its nine Lok Sabha MPs reportedly staying away from a crucial party meeting, raising speculation of a breakaway faction. This follows MP Sanjay Deshmukh's meeting with a Shinde faction leader, though he downplayed its significance. The absence of these MPs from key events, including Aditya Thackeray's birthday, further fuels the rumors, which Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut has dismissed as baseless, asserting that all MPs remain loyal and in touch with Uddhav Thackeray. In response, Uddhav Thackeray is actively engaged in damage control, reassuring party workers and office bearers and urging the absent MPs to explain their non-attendance, while also strategizing to retain grassroots support even if some MPs defect, a situation echoed by a Shinde faction leader who alluded to the possibility of MPs aligning with Eknath Shinde for their constituencies.

Reports suggest a potential split within Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), with five of its nine Lok Sabha MPs reportedly staying away from a crucial party meeting, raising speculation of a breakaway faction. This follows MP Sanjay Deshmukh's meeting with a Shinde faction leader, though he downplayed its significance. The absence of these MPs from key events, including Aditya Thackeray's birthday, further fuels the rumors, which Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut has dismissed as baseless, asserting that all MPs remain loyal and in touch with Uddhav Thackeray. In response, Uddhav Thackeray is actively engaged in damage control, reassuring party workers and office bearers and urging the absent MPs to explain their non-attendance, while also strategizing to retain grassroots support even if some MPs defect, a situation echoed by a Shinde faction leader who alluded to the possibility of MPs aligning with Eknath Shinde for their constituencies.

After Trinamool Congress, Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) could be heading towards a split. After reports that five of the nine MPs stayed away from a key meeting called by Uddhav at Matoshree in Mumbai, speculation is rife that these MPs could break away from the party and form a separate bloc in Parliament.

Shiv Sena UBT senior leader and Yavatmal-Washim MP Sanjay Deshmukh’s meeting with Union Minister Pratap Jadhav, a Shinde faction leader, in Delhi is grabbing attention, considering that Deshmukh had skipped attending the meeting in person at Uddhav’s residence. He reportedly opted to appear virtually. Though Deshmukh made no comments about their meeting, Jadhav described it as a routine one where they discussed matters related to a educational institute in their region. While Jadhav is an MP from Buldhana, Deshmukh is from the neighbouring Yavatmal-Washim.

The others who kept away are Shirdi MP Bhausaheb Wakchoure, Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Parbhani MP Sanjay Jadhav and Dharshiv MP Omraje Nimbalkar. The same MPs were also conspicuously absent to wish Aditya Thackeray on his birthday on June 13.

The Uddhav-led party has nine Lok Sabha MPs, and to avoid defection, six MPs need to break away. However, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut dismissed such discussions as rumours. He said the party chief was in constant touch with the MPs. "This is a lie. We have no such information. Four days ago, all these MPs took part in a meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray ji and expressed faith in his leadership. Out of them, some of the leaders swore by their loved ones pledged support to Uddhav ji," he added.

Meanwhile, Uddhav is in damage control mode. Meetings are being held to take activists and office-bearers into confidence, and at a meeting of office bearers in North East Mumbai, Uddhav Thackeray commented about the rumours of a split.

He appealed to the office bearers not to believe in rumours. "The MPs are with the party. All the MPs, including Sanjay Dina Patil, are in touch with us," he expressed confidence. It is also understood that instructions have been given to the MPs to communicate with local workers to avoid confusion among the office bearers.

Uddhav has also urged MPs who kept away from physically attending the meeting to explain their absence. The party is also ensuring that the workers and office bearers remain with them even if the MPs ditch them.

Senior Shinde faction leader and Maharashtra minister Ashish Jaiswal’s response to the rumours also seems to hint that all is not well within the Uddhav faction. On the speculation of several Shiv Sena UBT MPs joining Shiv Sena, Jaiswal said, "I do not consider it appropriate to comment on what is happening in Shiv Sena UBT. If they believe that Balasaheb's legacy is with Eknath Shinde, and if they take any decision for their constituency and political future, then it will be right to talk about it only after that. What they do following the history and rules of the anti-defection law, and how much their numerical strength is, is their decision."

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