Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs poised to defect to Eknath Shinde faction

Six Lok Sabha MPs of the Uddhav Thackeray‑led Shiv Sena (UBT) are expected to announce their exit and join the Eknath Shinde‑led Shiv Sena on June 21. The rebels – Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Sanjay Dina Patil – have reportedly submitted letters to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition as a separate parliamentary group.

The party has issued fresh show‑cause notices to the absentee MPs, warning that failure to explain within 24 hours could lead to disqualification under the Anti‑Defection Law. Uddhav Thackeray has responded by offering to resign as party chief, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared that “there is only one Shiv Sena, under Eknath Shinde.”

Rebel MP Nagesh Ashtikar confirmed his crossover, saying he “has not left my ideology, I am moving from one Shiv Sena to another,” and cited lack of development funds and being in opposition as key reasons. Meanwhile, party figures such as Rajool Patil publicly reaffirmed loyalty, stating “I am with Shiv Sena (UBT).”

If all six MPs defect, the split would meet the two‑thirds threshold needed to avoid anti‑defection penalties, potentially strengthening the Shinde‑led faction ahead of the upcoming monsoon parliamentary session.