Rebel Buzz And A Whip To MPs: Sena (UBT) At Crossroads Ahead Of Crucial Delhi Meet Today

Last Updated:June 18, 2026, 09:37 IST

Shiv Sena (UBT) has summoned all nine Lok Sabha MPs to Delhi as it seeks to counter split rumours and has pressed the Speaker to block any unlawful defection move.

As speculation over a possible split in the Shiv Sena (UBT) reaches a critical stage, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party has moved to shore up its parliamentary ranks and has issued a whip to all its Lok Sabha MPs. The party has also approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to prevent what it describes as any unlawful defection.

The twin moves come amid reports that a section of the party’s MPs may be preparing to align with the ruling Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.

The developments have turned Thursday’s parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi into a high-stakes test for the Sena (UBT), which is seeking to demonstrate that it retains the support of its MPs despite persistent reports of a rebellion.

POLITICAL STORM OVER ‘OPERATION TIGER’

The political buzz, dubbed ‘Operation Tiger’ in Maharashtra’s political circles, centres on reports that six to seven of the Sena (UBT)’s nine Lok Sabha MPs are in touch with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. While no formal split has been announced, the speculation has triggered intense activity within the party.

The crisis is being viewed as the most serious challenge to Uddhav Thackeray’s parliamentary strength since the 2022 rebellion led by Shinde, which split the undivided Shiv Sena.

Media reports citing party sources have suggested that rebel MPs are exploring their legal options, while Sena (UBT) leaders maintain that the rival camp does not yet have the numbers required to engineer a split.

THREE-LINE WHIP FOR ALL MPs

In an apparent bid to assess loyalties and prevent further uncertainty, Shiv Sena (UBT) issued a whip directing all its Lok Sabha MPs to attend a parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on June 18.

According to the whip issued by Chief Whip Anil Desai, the meeting has been convened to discuss “various party issues", and all MPs have been asked to remain “mandatorily present" at the Parliamentary Party Office in Parliament House.

The circular stated, “All Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) party are requested to remain mandatorily present at the Parliamentary Party meeting on Thursday, 18 June 2026, at 11:00 AM."

Party leaders believe attendance at the meeting could provide the first concrete indication of whether the reported rebellion has gathered sufficient momentum.

LOYALISTS MOVE SPEAKER OVER DEFECTION FEARS

A day before the meeting, Sena (UBT) MPs Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai, along with Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, met Speaker Om Birla and submitted a representation seeking safeguards against any move that could facilitate a defection.

Speaking after the meeting, Sawant said, “We apprised him that what news is coming out, no one has come and told you that he is leaving the party. Even if they come, the speaker must act according to the constitution. And there is the anti-defection law as well, according to which a group cannot be recognised."

Desai argued that legal provisions favour the original political organisation and not a breakaway faction.

“Under the law, one cannot simply merge with a party even if they have the support of two-thirds of the MPs. Only the original party can merge if a group has the required two-thirds strength," he said.

He further added, “Only a party can merge; there is no provision for a group to merge with any party."

SPEAKER’S ASSURANCE AND ANTI-DEFECTION DEBATE

Sanjay Raut said the Speaker assured the delegation that any decision would be taken in accordance with constitutional provisions and parliamentary rules.

“The Speaker is a respectable person for us. We regard him. He assured that the law, rules and regulations will be kept in mind in the matter," Raut said.

The anti-defection issue lies at the heart of the dispute.

Under existing provisions, a faction would require the support of at least two-thirds of the party’s MPs to avoid disqualification.

With nine Sena (UBT) MPs in the Lok Sabha, at least six lawmakers would be needed to meet that threshold. However, the interpretation of merger provisions and recognition of any breakaway group is likely to be closely scrutinised if such a claim is formally made.

THURSDAY MEETING TO PROVIDE CLARITY

The outcome of Thursday’s parliamentary party meeting is expected to determine the immediate future of Sena (UBT)’s parliamentary unit.

While leaders such as Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje have publicly reaffirmed their loyalty to Uddhav Thackeray, uncertainty remains over the position of several other MPs whose names have surfaced in speculation surrounding the alleged rebellion.

For the Thackeray camp, the meeting is not merely an organisational exercise but a crucial show of strength.

The attendance pattern and any subsequent claims made before the Speaker could decide whether the party successfully contains the crisis or confronts another major split in the years after the Shinde rebellion.

About the Author

Vani Mehrotra

Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has more than 10 years of experience in national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.

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