Debate With Arnab: Uddhav's Biggest Political Challenge Yet? Sena Rift Widens

The Shiv Sena (UBT) appears to be heading towards another major political crisis, with six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs reportedly preparing to break away and align with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction.

According to top sources, MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction are scheduled to meet at the Delhi residence of Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde at around 8:30 am on Wednesday. Eknath Shinde and Shrikant Shinde are both expected to be present during the meeting. Sources indicated that the rebel MPs are likely to first complete the formal process of constituting a separate group within the Lok Sabha before subsequently merging with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.  Six Uddhav Thackeray faction MPs will join the Shiv Sena Shinde faction on June 19, Foundation Day.

The six MPs reportedly in touch with the Shinde camp are Omraje Nimbalkar from Dharashiv, Sanjay Jadhav from Parbhani, Sanjay Dina Patil from Mumbai North East, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar from Hingoli, Bhausaheb Wakchaure from Shirdi, and Sanjay Deshmukh from Yavatmal-Washim. The name of Rajabhau Waje has also surfaced in discussions surrounding the possible split.