Internal Divide In Shiv Sena UBT Could Deliver Significant Advantage To BJP
Party divisions could boost BJP's electoral prospects significantly.
Shiv Sena (UBT) appears to be facing a major internal crisis, with six of its Lok Sabha members reportedly preparing to break away from the party and align with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. The development, if formalized, could significantly weaken the opposition party's presence in Parliament and provide a political boost to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
According to sources familiar with the matter, six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs — Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Sanjay Patil, and Omraje Nimbalkar — were expected to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in New Delhi to submit a letter seeking recognition as a separate group. The lawmakers reportedly gathered at an undisclosed location in the national capital ahead of the proposed meeting. Sanjay Jadhav is expected to be chosen as the leader of the breakaway faction before it potentially merges with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The move comes despite efforts by the party leadership to prevent a split. Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary party leader Arvind Sawant issued a whip directing all nine Lok Sabha MPs and the party's lone Rajya Sabha member to attend a meeting scheduled for Thursday. Sawant also wrote to Speaker Om Birla, urging him not to recognize any breakaway group from the party. The letter reflects growing concern within the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp over the possibility of another major defection.
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The reported rebellion would mark the latest chapter in the political turmoil that has gripped the Shiv Sena since 2022, when Eknath Shinde led a successful revolt against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership. That split resulted in the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra and paved the way for a BJP-backed administration. Shinde subsequently became chief minister with BJP support before later assuming the role of deputy chief minister after the NDA returned to power in the state in 2024.
Political observers note that a formal split in the parliamentary party could have significant implications for opposition politics in Maharashtra and at the national level. Shiv Sena (UBT) has been a key constituent of the opposition alliance, and the loss of a majority of its Lok Sabha members would reduce its influence in Parliament. It would also strengthen the Shinde faction's claim as the principal representative of the Shiv Sena's political legacy.
The developments come amid broader political realignments and heightened competition between the NDA and opposition parties ahead of future electoral contests. While the final outcome remains dependent on parliamentary procedures and the decisions of the lawmakers involved, the reported move has already triggered intense political speculation and could reshape the balance of power within Maharashtra's political landscape.
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