Shinde Aims For 6 MPs, Uddhav Looks To Save 9 In Time: Why The Bid Matters Beyond The Numbers

Last Updated:June 16, 2026, 15:35 IST

UBT leaders argue that the arithmetic is heavily stacked against any fresh split

As the Monsoon Session of Parliament approaches, Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena factions are once again locked in a battle for political survival and symbolic supremacy.

While the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is believed to be making renewed attempts to reach out to MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray camp, leaders in Shiv Sena (UBT) insist that their parliamentary flock remains firmly intact.

According to sources in the UBT camp, senior leaders Sanjay Raut and Arvind Sawant have personally spoken to all nine Lok Sabha MPs of the party over the past few days. The exercise, sources say, was aimed at gauging the political mood within the party and preventing any last-minute surprises before Parliament convenes.

‘MATHS DOES NOT ADD UP’: DECODING THE NUMBER GAME

The concern is not without reason. Since engineering the split in the undivided Shiv Sena in 2022, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has repeatedly sought to establish his faction as the dominant inheritor of the Sena legacy. While the battle over legislators was won long ago, the parliamentary wing remains one of the few arenas where Uddhav Thackeray continues to hold significant ground.

Before ‘Op Tiger’ Buzz, These 4 Blows Left Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena Battered And Bruised

UBT leaders argue that the arithmetic is heavily stacked against any fresh split. The party currently has nine Lok Sabha MPs. Of these, Mumbai MPs Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Sanjay Dina Patil, along with Nashik MP Rajabhau Waje, are considered unwavering loyalists of Matoshree. Their commitment, party insiders claim, leaves little room for manoeuvre.

Under the anti-defection provisions, a breakaway group would require the support of at least two-thirds of the parliamentary party. In the case of UBT’s nine MPs, that figure stands at six. UBT sources claim that despite persistent speculation, the Shinde camp is nowhere close to securing those numbers.

“The maths simply does not add up," said a senior UBT functionary. “Even if the Shinde camp reaches out to every available MP, crossing the six-member threshold remains highly unlikely."

POLITICAL MESSAGING MATTERS

Yet, the political messaging behind the outreach may be as important as the numbers themselves. A successful defection would not only weaken Uddhav Thackeray’s position in Delhi but also reinforce Shinde’s claim that his faction represents the mainstream of Sena politics.

While speaking with this reporter, Shiv Sena UBT MP from Yavatmal, Sanjay Deshmukh said, “I am in Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena. Due to some media reports, a wrong message is getting spread in my constituency and within my supporters." On being asked about his recent Delhi visit to meet Minister Prataprao Jadhav, Deshmukh replied, “For my personal work, I had gone to Delhi."

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Another MP of Shiv Sena UBT, Arvind Sawant, told this reporter that, “Why don’t they make names of these 7 MPs public, like they did with TMC? There is no operation tiger; for many days such claims have been made but yet the situation remains the same. We have all made our stance clear on Sunday. All our MPs were present for the meeting, and a few joined via Video Conference."

For now, however, UBT leaders appear confident. As Parliament’s Monsoon Session nears, the battle for Shiv Sena’s future continues—but at least on paper, Uddhav Thackeray’s MPs remain firmly in his corner.

About the Author

Mayuresh Ganapatye

Mayuresh Ganapatye, News Editor at News18.com, writes on politics and civic issues, as well as human interests stories. He has been covering Maharashtra and Goa for more than a decade. Follow him at @...Read More

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