Shiv Sena UBT Faces Second Split in Four Years as Six Rebel MPs Go Public Today

The Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray is facing a fresh political crisis as six rebel Members of Parliament are expected to publicly justify their decision to break away from the party. The development threatens to deepen divisions within the organisation and could mark the second major split involving the Thackeray-led faction in four years. Party leaders are now engaged in damage-control efforts to prevent further defections and contain the political fallout.

According to sources, the rebel MPs are scheduled to hold a press conference where they will release photographs and videos of their meeting with Om Birla and disclose details of the letter they submitted to him. The lawmakers are expected to explain the reasons behind their decision to sever ties with the party leadership and present their version of events directly to the public.

The crisis comes at a particularly sensitive time for Shiv Sena (UBT), which was formed after the original Shiv Sena split in 2022 following a rebellion led by Eknath Shinde. The current rebellion involves six of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs, significantly weakening the parliamentary strength of the Thackeray camp. Political observers believe the development could also strengthen the position of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra.

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Sources indicate that the rebels have informed the Lok Sabha Speaker of their decision and argued that their move does not attract the anti-defection law because they are acting on ideological grounds. The group has reportedly accused the Thackeray leadership of deviating from the party's traditional ideology. While they have not yet formally appeared alongside Shinde, they are expected to publicly express support for him in the coming days.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has responded by issuing show-cause notices to the rebel MPs for failing to attend a parliamentary party meeting. Party leaders are also considering seeking the cancellation of the MPs' memberships on procedural grounds. At the same time, the rebels have been careful to avoid actions that could be interpreted as voluntarily relinquishing their party membership, a factor that may become important in any legal or parliamentary proceedings.

In response to the growing challenge, Uddhav Thackeray has launched an extensive outreach campaign across constituencies represented by the rebel MPs. Over the next several days, he is expected to visit key regions including Yavatmal, Parbhani, Hingoli, Dharashiv and Shirdi to meet party workers and district leaders. The tour is aimed at preventing further defections, strengthening organisational unity and reassuring supporters as the party confronts one of the most serious political challenges since its formation.

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