Maharashtra politics is once again in churn. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has levelled a sharp and explosive charge, claiming that the party's MPs are being offered Rs 15 crore each to defect. The accusation lands at a moment when talk of a split inside the Uddhav Thackeray-led party has reached fever pitch.
Raut Hits Out on Social Media
Raut aired his reaction on his X handle, writing, "अपना सपना मनी मनी! यह चौंकाने वाला और घिनौना है कि महाराष्ट्र के सांसदों को आज रात पाला बदलने के लिए 15-15 करोड़ रुपये की पेशकश की जा रही है," which translates to a stinging remark that it is shocking and disgraceful that Maharashtra's MPs are being offered Rs 15 crore each tonight to switch sides. His statement added fuel to the growing speculation that a section of the party's MPs could break away and set up a separate bloc.
Raut has earlier maintained that MLAs and MPs keep coming and going, but the party stays put. Taking aim at the BJP, he accused it of being the one that breaks political parties apart, and issued a warning that "हमारा दिन जब आएगा, हम दिखाएंगे पार्टी कैसे तोड़ी जाती है," meaning that when their day comes, they will show how a party is broken.
Rebel MPs Set for Delhi Meeting
According to sources, MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray (UBT) camp are set to gather at Shrikant Shinde's Delhi residence at around 8:30 am on Wednesday. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shrikant Shinde are also expected to be present at the meeting. It is being reported that after this gathering, all these MPs will go on to meet the Lok Sabha Speaker.
Sources say the plan is for these MPs to first complete the process of forming a separate group in the Lok Sabha, after which this group would be merged into the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. There is talk that 6 MPs of the Uddhav faction (UBT) are in touch with the Shinde Shiv Sena. The name of Rajabhau Waje is also figuring in these discussions.
The MPs whose names are being linked to the development are as follows:
- Sanjay Dina Patil
- Sanjay Deshmukh
- Nagesh Patil Ashtikar
- Omraje Nimbalkar
- Bhausaheb Wakchaure
- Sanjay Jadhav
Shiv Sena (UBT) Submits Official Letter to the Speaker
On the other side, amid all this speculation, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has moved to protect its standing by submitting an official letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker. The party has demanded that only Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) be recognised as the authorised political party in Parliament.
The letter states clearly that no separate group, rebel faction or independent bloc should be granted any distinct identity, status, facilities or privileges. The party further added that if any other group demands recognition or a special status, Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) should be given the chance to present its case before any decision is taken on it.
The party has also made it clear that it reserves the right to invoke the legal provisions available under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, the anti-defection law. The letter was sent to the Lok Sabha Speaker by Arvind Sawant, the leader of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) parliamentary party and an MP.
