Shiv Sena (UBT) faces rebellion; Raut alleges Rs 50 crore bid amid Shinde camp buzz

Even as the Trinamool Congress grapples with an unprecedented split, Shiv Sena (UBT), another major player in the Opposition camp, is staring at a crisis, with "six to seven" of its nine Lok Sabha MPs inclined to switch to the ruling Shiv Sena (Shinde) and camping in the national capital, sources said on Tuesday (June 16).

It is learnt that Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde was also headed to Delhi late on Tuesday.

Is Aditya factor fuelling unrest?

Sources told PTI that Shinde was expected to land in Delhi late on Tuesday. "Six to seven MPs are likely to switch sides," a leader of the Shinde camp said, claiming that the move was linked to a possible elevation in the role of Aditya Thackeray, son of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, who currently heads the party's youth wing.

The leader claimed that the MPs likely to make the switch found the prospect of Aditya's further elevation within Shiv Sena (UBT) unacceptable.

Sources said Shiv Sena (UBT) was planning to make an announcement regarding Aditya on June 19, which marks the 60th foundation day of the undivided Shiv Sena. The party split in 2022 following a rebellion led by Shinde that brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

The perception of impending defections deepened after only four of the party's nine MPs attended a meeting convened by Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday.

However, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut had claimed that the remaining five MPs joined virtually or over the phone. On Tuesday, Raut said a "wrong picture was being painted" and asserted that all parliamentarians remained firmly with the party and Uddhav Thackeray.

Bid to lure MPs with Rs 50 crore: Raut

However, striking a different while addressing a press conference in Delhi on Wednesday, Raut alleged that some Maharashtra MPs were being offered "Rs 50 crore" to switch sides and challenged dissidents to quit, amid heightened speculation of an imminent split in the Uddhav Thackeray led party.

Raut said the people of Maharashtra and Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs won't remain quiet if the party split is replicated, a reference to the rebellion in 2022. Out of the nine Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha members, only three -- Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje -- attended the press conference.

Raut said an "important person" had informed him late Tuesday night that efforts were underway to "buy" MPs from Maharashtra. "I was told that the rate is Rs 50 crore and that Rs 15 crore each would be delivered by tonight. They were allegedly unwilling to board the aircraft without receiving the money," the Rajya Sabha claimed.

He, however, said the party had no official information about any split and that reports about some MPs breaking away were being learned through the media. "If parties are broken in this manner, there is no meaning left in fighting elections," he said.

Earlier, In a late night post on X on Tuesday, Raut said, "Apna sapna money...money! There is information that an advance of Rs 15 crore will be given tonight to buy MPs from Maharashtra. This is shocking and disgusting!"

"A chartered flight lands in Nanded and picks two MPs under the guise of Operation Tiger and takes off. They did not even have the means to travel in an auto-rickshaw. It is because of the Thackerays that their worth has risen to fly in a chartered plane," he said.

Everything will be accounted for, the Rajya Sabha member warned. "Why are you calling escape of timid wolves as Operation Tiger?" he asked.

Shinde faction woos rebels

Earlier in the day, the speculation about an imminent rebellion by MPs of Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) strengthened with ruling Shiv Sena (Shinde) leader Pratap Sarnaik hinting at welcoming dissidents and giving them priority should they jump ship. He virtually extended a thinly-veiled invitation.

"If public representatives like MPs and MLAs do not trust their leadership...If they believe in the ideals of Sena founder Bal Thackeray and are willing to trust the leadership of Eknath Shinde, then the doors of the Shiv Sena are open to them," he said.

The minister cryptically said, "We will give them priority if they thought of it (any time) in the future." His comments came a day after Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Deshmukh met Union minister and Shiv Sena minister Prataprao Jadhav in Delhi.

Eyebrows were raised when the Yavatmal-Washim MP skipped a meeting convened by Uddhav Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai on Sunday, citing "family reasons". However, on Monday, he met Prataprao Jadhav, fuelling speculation about a possible switch.

Birla urged against recognition

Shiv Sena (UBT) party MP Arvind Sawant has urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla not to grant recognition to any "breakaway" group claiming to represent the party, amid speculation of an imminent rebellion in the Uddhav Thackeray camp.

The development comes as at least six of the nine Sena (UBT) MPs are speculated to be preparing to form a separate group in the Lok Sabha.

Sawant claimed the authority to determine leadership within the House, to appoint the whip, and to issue directions regarding legislative conduct flows from the political party. "The legislature party does not possess an independent source of authority divorced from the political party," he said in a letter to Speaker Birla late Tuesday night.

"The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) continues to be recognised as a single political party represented in the House through its duly authorised leader and whip, and that no separate recognition, status, privilege or facility be accorded to any purported faction or breakaway group claiming to represent the party," Sawant said.

"No decision be taken on any such request, if received, without first allowing the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) an opportunity to place its submissions before your office," he requested.

Party issues whip to MPs

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has issued a whip to its MPs to attend a meeting in New Delhi to discuss "important issues", amid growing speculation of an imminent rebellion in the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, sources said on Wednesday.

The party can initiate disqualification proceedings against those who skip the meeting, they said.

Notably, the party had issued a similar whip when 39 MLAs led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde rebelled against the Sena leadership in 2022, following which disqualification proceedings were initiated against them.

(With agency inputs)