Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday declared that only one Shiv Sena remains, asserting that the faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde can no longer be described as a separate group. The remarks came amid reports of a fresh political realignment involving Members of Parliament from the camp of Uddhav Thackeray.

Addressing a public gathering in Kolhapur, Shah said the political landscape had changed significantly since the split in the Shiv Sena. “Earlier, people had to say 'Shiv Sena-Shinde faction' after Eknath Shinde ji's name,” Shah said while speaking in Hindi. “Now no faction remains anymore... there is only one Shiv Sena.” His statement was widely seen as an endorsement of the Shinde-led outfit's claim to being the principal successor to the party founded by the late Bal Thackeray.

The timing of Shah's remarks is significant. The comments came as six of the nine Lok Sabha MPs belonging to Shiv Sena (UBT) reportedly skipped a parliamentary meeting in New Delhi and submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition as a separate grouping. The development has fuelled speculation that the MPs could soon formally align themselves with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, further weakening Uddhav Thackeray's parliamentary strength.

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If the move is formalised, it would mark another major chapter in the political split that has transformed Maharashtra politics over the last four years. The division began in 2022 when Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership, resulting in the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. The rebellion triggered a prolonged legal and political battle over control of the Shiv Sena's name, symbol and organisational structure.

Subsequently, the Election Commission recognised the Shinde-led faction as the official Shiv Sena and allotted it the party's iconic bow-and-arrow symbol. While Uddhav Thackeray's faction continued to operate under the name Shiv Sena (UBT), both camps have remained locked in a struggle for political legitimacy and support among traditional Shiv Sena voters. Shah's latest remarks appear aimed at reinforcing the narrative that the Shinde-led organisation has emerged as the dominant force within the party's legacy.

The potential shift of MPs also carries implications for national politics. A formal merger into the Shinde-led Shiv Sena would strengthen the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Parliament and provide additional support to the government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It would also further consolidate the alliance between the BJP and Shinde's party in Maharashtra.

The developments have prompted criticism from opposition leaders, who have repeatedly accused the BJP of engineering defections and using its political influence to weaken rival parties. Leaders from the Shiv Sena (UBT) camp have alleged that attempts are being made to “buy” MPs and undermine the opposition's unity. The BJP has consistently rejected such allegations, maintaining that leaders are choosing to join its alliance based on political considerations and ideological alignment.

With Parliament in session and Maharashtra politics once again witnessing rapid shifts, the coming days could prove crucial in determining the future strength and composition of the rival Shiv Sena factions. Any formal realignment of MPs would not only alter parliamentary equations but could also have a lasting impact on the state's political landscape ahead of future electoral contests.

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