The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction is facing renewed political uncertainty after both its leadership and a rebel group separately approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday, each staking competing claims over party legitimacy and control in Parliament.The development unfolded amid reports that six MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp may have aligned with the rival faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

In response, the UBT group issued a three-line whip directing all nine of its Lok Sabha MPs to attend a crucial parliamentary party meeting scheduled for Thursday, signaling an attempt to consolidate internal discipline and prevent further defections.The Uddhav-led faction urged the Speaker to intervene and prevent what it described as “unlawful defections,” while the rival group reportedly submitted a letter claiming the support of six MPs. According to sources, the rebel MPs are expected to formally align with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, potentially setting the stage for an official recognition process in Parliament.

Names of the MPs reportedly associated with the rebel camp include Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, and Sanjay Patil. Meanwhile, representatives of the UBT faction—including Arvind Sawant, Sanjay Raut, and Anil Desai—met the Speaker separately to present their side of the dispute and assert organizational continuity. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Anil Desai argued that parliamentary rules do not permit a faction to merge or switch recognition unless it meets strict constitutional conditions.

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He maintained that even numerical strength alone does not validate a merger unless established procedures are followed, reflecting the legal complexity surrounding the ongoing dispute. The crisis comes amid broader political turbulence in Maharashtra politics, where factional battles within the original Shiv Sena have persisted since the split between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. The latest developments suggest that the contest for formal recognition in Parliament remains unresolved, with the Speaker’s office expected to play a decisive role in determining which group holds legitimate authority.

Separately, similar concerns over internal splits have surfaced in other opposition parties as well. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav dismissed speculation of a split in his party, asserting that the organization remains united despite claims by Uttar Pradesh minister Om Prakash Rajbhar that several leaders were preparing to defect to the BJP. In another related development, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has also invited Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee for a meeting on June 19 to hear his position regarding internal differences within the party, highlighting a broader pattern of leadership disputes being reviewed at the parliamentary level across multiple political formations.

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