Shiv Sena (UBT) moves to disqualify six Lok Sabha MPs amid merger bid with Shinde faction

Staring at the prospect of a second split, the Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday (July 16) issued show-cause notices to six of its Lok Sabha MPs for not attending a meeting called by MP Anil Desai, adding that it has initiated the process of seeking the disqualification of the Lower House members.

Action against rebel MPs

Soon after the meeting, speaking to reporters, the party's Lok Sabha MP Anil Desai said "The meeting just got over, show-cause notice was sent today." Accompanying Desai, Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said that action would be taken against the MPs soon, as they had violated the party whip despite being well aware of it.

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"In our parliamentary party office, our Lok Sabha leader Arvind Sawant and our Chief Whip Anil Desai called a meeting of the MPs at 11 am today. Three Lok Sabha MPs were present: Arvind Sawantji, Rajabhau Waje, and Anil Desai. I am a Rajya Sabha member, but this meeting was important for the Lok Sabha,” said Raut.

“Those members who did not attend this meeting we consider it a violation of the party whip. They have not followed the party's orders. So, the process for taking action has started," he added.

Raut alleges betrayal

Accusing the rebel MPs of resorting to "betrayal, dishonesty, conspiracy, and fraud” by skipping the meeting, Raut dared them to release the photo of their meeting with the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

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"They will be given a show-cause notice, answers will be sought, and we will move towards disqualifying their membership. They met the Speaker yesterday and asked to merge. We met the Speaker too - myself, Arvind Sawant, and Anil Desai. Our photo was also published. If those six people met him, show their faces. They call it strategy, we call it betrayal, dishonesty, conspiracy, and fraud," he added as quoted by ANI.

Sena (UBT) MPs Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje attended the meeting, along with Sanjay Raut, the party's lone Rajya Sabha MP.

Merger bid under scrutiny

The MPs who skipped the meeting are Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar and Bhausaheb Wakchaure.

According to a PTI report quoting sources, all six dissident MPs have signed a letter seeking a merger with the Shinde-led Sena and submitted it to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

The process, however, is not yet complete, as the speaker's office is understood to require the physical appearance of some of the MPs for verification, and that is "expected to happen in the coming days", they said. The verification of signatures is currently underway, stated the report.