Is the biggest rebellion going to happen in Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT)? The discussion of seven MPs joining Shinde faction has heated up the politics of Maharashtra. Is the reason for the dissatisfaction of the MPs due to distance from the leadership, lack of funds and organizational weakness? What is the real game behind the alleged offer of Rs 15 crore and the Delhi meetings?
Mumbai/Delhi: You must remember that scene of the year 2022 when Eknath Shinde tore the Shiv Sena apart by taking the MLAs along with him. Exactly four years later, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is at the brink of the worst and most serious internal crisis in its history. Just before the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament, the news coming from the political circles of Delhi is enough to give sleepless nights to the Uddhav camp. Out of the total 9 UBT MPs in the Lok Sabha, 7 MPs have taken a rebel stance and their deal with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is said to be in the final stages.
That long wait for ‘appointment’: Why was the resentment burning among the MPs?
It is said in politics that when a leader keeps distance from his own workers and public representatives, the ground for rebellion starts being prepared. According to sources, the reason for the biggest displeasure of the rebel MPs with Uddhav Thackeray is very shocking.
- Closed window of meeting: The MPs allege that they were demanding a face-to-face meeting with ‘Junior Thackeray’ (Aditya Thackeray) and Uddhav Thackeray for a long time, but despite repeated attempts, they did not get an appointment.
- Simmering political challenges: The MPs were facing tough competition from the opposition parties at the local level. He had requested Uddhav Thackeray to visit his constituencies, but the leadership did not turn to his areas.
- Shortage of funds and support: The most concrete and serious complaint was on the economic front. MPs had repeatedly appealed for funds and organizational help for the upcoming local body and municipal corporation elections, which were ignored. The fear of contesting elections without financial and ground support made MPs insecure.
Who are those 7 MPs? Who wrote the script of rebellion!
The center of this entire incident has now become Delhi, 1,400 kilometers away from Mumbai. Along with the six prominent MPs leading the rebellion – Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchore and Sanjay Jadhav, Rajabhau Waje is also said to be involved in this game. The suspense deepened when these MPs held a highly confidential meeting with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at the official residence of Eknath Shinde’s son and MP Shrikant Shinde in the national capital. Shinde faction’s MLC Kripal Tumane has named this entire political drama as “Operation Tiger”. Making a sensational claim, Tumane said: “Seven Sena UBT MPs want to join us. Not only this, 16 of their MLAs are also in direct contact with us. It is just like a medical surgery; the investigation has been done, the report has come and now all that remains is to meet with the doctor (Eknath Shinde) to finalize the date of the operation.”
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Sanjay Raut’s ₹15 crore atom bomb and direct attack on BJP
As soon as the news of the party’s split became common, firebrand leader of Shiv Sena (UBT) Sanjay Raut took charge and dropped a big political atom bomb on social media platform X. Raut directly accused MPs of horse-trading, writing: “To buy the MPs of Maharashtra… tonight an advance amount of Rs 15 crore is being given to each one, this information is shocking and disgusting!” Taking an aggressive stance, Raut said that Uddhav Thackeray had worked day and night to make all these MPs win. He claimed that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is conspiring to break their MPs by luring them with money, but the rebel leaders will not be able to muster the required legal numbers. Raut said in strong words that those who are true Shiv Sainiks will never leave the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray.
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Speaker’s office and anti-defection law: Uddhav Sena stuck in legal maze
Seeing its entire political ground slipping, the Uddhav Thackeray camp has also intensified retaliatory legal action. To legally invalidate the rebellion, the Army UBT has hurriedly written an official letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. In this letter, it has been demanded that only his faction should be given special recognition in the Parliament as ‘Authorized Shiv Sena’. Also, a request has been made to the Speaker that no separate identity, status or parliamentary privilege should be given to any separate rebel group present in Delhi. The party has warned the rebel MPs that they have full authority to implement stringent anti-defection provisions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (Anti-Defection Law). Meanwhile, in view of the seriousness of the situation, Uddhav Thackeray has called an emergency meeting of all his MLAs on June 22 at the party office ‘Shivalay’ in Mumbai. Now it remains to be seen whether ‘Operation Tiger’ going on in Delhi is successful or whether Uddhav Thackeray is able to foil this rebellion at the last moment.