Mumbai, 16 June

(HS): The Shiv Sena (UBT) might be on the verge of another major split, with

reports indicating that 14 to 16 MLAs and six MPs are planning to leave the

Uddhav Thackeray-led party. According to insiders, the intended separation

might happen within the next six to seven days. If that occurs, it will be

another major blow for Uddhav Thackeray following the 2022 uprising, which

significantly transformed Maharashtra's political environment.

Amid rumours that certain Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs may

defect to Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, party head Uddhav Thackeray has invited a

meeting of all Sena (UBT) MLAs and MLCs on June 22, the opening day of the

state legislature's monsoon session. Uddhav held a meeting of all Sena (UBT)

Lok Sabha MPs on Sunday. Four of the party's nine MPs participated in person,

with the remaining five joining online. The meeting will take place at

Shivalay, the party's office at Nariman Point, and Uddhav is scheduled to

address them.

A meeting of all Shiv Sena (UBT) Legislative Party

members in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council has been scheduled

on June 22 at 4 p.m. at Shivalay. The gathering will be presided over by party

president Uddhav Thackeray. A party circular written by chief whip Sunil Prabhu

and MLC Anil Parab demanded that all members arrive on time. Meanwhile, Shinde

Sena MLC Krupal Tumane said that talks with seven Sena (UBT) MPs under

Operation Tiger had reached a conclusion. The procedure is nearly complete,

much as a patient goes through testing before to an operation. Only the date

remains to be set. This will occur before to the monsoon session. It is not

acceptable for us to discuss all of the facts, but they will probably certainly

join us. These conversations have been ongoing for a month and are finally

nearing completion, according to Tumane.

Sanjay Raut, a Sena (UBT) MP, denied the

allegations. “People of the Shinde group make a variety of assertions. Who will

split the party? For the past 12 years, the BJP's sole purpose has been to

dismantle political parties. They have now separated the TMC, having previously

done so with the NCP and Shiv Sena,” according to Raut. Deputy chief minister

Eknath Shinde declined to comment on reports that Sena (UBT) MPs or MLAs may

defect and join his side. Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim), a Sena (UBT) MP,

visited Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav of the Shinde Sena in Delhi on Monday,

a day after missing Uddhav Thackeray's in-person meeting and joining it

remotely.

The bonhomie fueled further conjecture about

probable Sena (UBT) MP defections and created a stir among party circles.

Prataprao Jadhav, on the other hand, said that Deshmukh met with him for

personal reasons relating to an educational institution and that the meeting

had nothing to do with any split or defection. The bonhomie gained notice since

Deshmukh was unable to go to Mumbai for Uddhav's meeting but met with a Shinde

Sena minister the next day in Delhi. Raut, on the other hand, stated that all

nine Sena (UBT) MPs were in touch with the party and fully supported Uddhav

Thackeray.

Shinde Sena minister of state Ashish Jaiswal said

details of Operation Tiger, which aims to recruit Sena (UBT) MPs into the

ruling side, will be divulged at the proper moment, drawing comparisons to the

June 20, 2022 split in the undivided Shiv Sena.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi