After days of political speculation in Maharashtra, six Members of Parliament associated with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) have joined the Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
It is yet another setback for Uddhav Thackeray and further strengthens Shinde’s position within the broader Shiv Sena movement that has been divided since the dramatic rebellion of 2022.
The six MPs announced their decision after a series of meetings with senior leaders of the Shinde camp, citing the need for political stability and closer alignment with the ruling alliance in Maharashtra. Their defection is being viewed as a continuation of the political realignment that began when Eknath Shinde led a large group of Shiv Sena legislators away from the party, eventually bringing down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government headed by Uddhav Thackeray.
The latest shift could have important implications for the balance of power within Maharashtra politics. Since the split, both factions have been competing for the support of party workers, elected representatives, and voters who traditionally backed the Shiv Sena. The addition of six MPs significantly boosts the parliamentary strength of the Shinde faction and reinforces its claim to represent the legacy and political base of the original Shiv Sena.
Leaders of the Uddhav Thackeray camp strongly criticized the defections, accusing the MPs of abandoning the party’s ideology and betraying the trust of voters who elected them under the Shiv Sena (UBT) banner. The MPs were accused of succumbing to political pressure and the lure of power.
The development also highlights the continuing challenges facing Uddhav Thackeray as he attempts to rebuild his political organization after losing control of the party name and symbol in earlier legal and electoral battles. While Shiv Sena (UBT) has retained a dedicated support base, repeated defections have raised concerns about its ability to maintain influence in both state and national politics. Notably, after Uddhav Thackeray broke alliance with the Bharatiya Janta Party to become CM with the help of Congress, his political career has gone downhill, and now his own MPs are deserting him.
As Maharashtra moves closer to future electoral contests, the latest defections are likely to intensify political competition between the two Sena factions. Whether the shift translates into greater electoral success for Eknath Shinde or galvanizes support for Uddhav Thackeray remains to be seen, but it undoubtedly marks another important chapter in the ongoing struggle for the Shiv Sena’s political legacy.
