Kumar Bahukhandi
Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Uddhav Thackeray (R) and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut issue a warning to its MPs for not turning up in a parliamentary meeting called by UTB on Thursday June 18, 2026 at Matoshree (File Photo: PTI)
Amidst speculation of a potential rebellion within Shiv Sena (UBT), Uddhav Thackeray has convened an emergency meeting of MPs. Claims regarding the support of six MPs are currently the talk of the town.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has called a crucial meeting of its MPs today. Speculation about another split in the party has intensified; reports suggest that a faction of rebel MPs is preparing to join Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. This emergency meeting takes place against the backdrop of news—surfacing just yesterday—that the rebel faction claims the support of six out of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs and has contacted Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, sparking a fresh political storm in Maharashtra.
To prevent a recurrence of the 2022 Shinde-led rebellion, the Uddhav faction has issued a ‘three-line whip’ to all nine of its MPs, directing them to attend the meeting in Delhi in person.
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- The Eknath Shinde faction had claimed a defection of six MPs from the Uddhav camp. Shiv Sena MLC Chandrakant Raghuvanshi had stated that ‘Operation Tiger’ had commenced in Maharashtra, under which six MPs have pledged their support to Eknath Shinde and joined his Shiv Sena faction.
- Only three MPs have arrived for the parliamentary party meeting. These include Anil Desai, Arvind Sawant, and Rajabhau Waje, alongside Sanjay Raut. An attendance register has been prepared to record the presence of the MPs.
Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant have left for the Parliament House to attend the parliamentary party meeting. The meeting is scheduled to take place in the old Parliament building. Responding to speculation about attempts to poach Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut challenged their opponents to go ahead and do it if they could. Invoking Balasaheb Thackeray’s legacy, he accused the opposition of undermining democracy and using central agencies to exert pressure, asserting that his party would continue to resist such political pressure.
‘Where there is Thackeray, there is Shiv Sena
Addressing a joint press conference with MP Arvind Sawant, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said, “Since when did Shinde’s Shiv Sena become the real Shiv Sena? The real Shiv Sena is right here. Where there is Thackerays, there is Shiv Sena.”
Warning of action against MPs!
Party leaders have warned that disciplinary action could be taken against MPs who fail to attend the meeting. This crucial meeting is expected to determine whether Uddhav Thackeray will retain control over his parliamentary party or face yet another damaging split. This situation has arisen four years after the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, triggered by Shinde’s rebellion in 2022.
Amidst this speculation, sources claim that a group of rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla informally on Wednesday June 17, 2026 . They claimed to have the support of six out of the party’s nine MPs—meeting the two-thirds majority threshold required to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.
These developments have surfaced at a time when Shiv Sena sources have described the move as a meticulously planned ‘Operation Tiger,’ allegedly overseen by Eknath Shinde during his stay in Delhi.
(With PTI & ANI Inputs )
