Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Defect to Shinde Faction, Cite Lack of Development Funds

Six Members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction have defected to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, citing denial of development funds for their constituencies. The move, announced on Monday, marks a significant shift in Maharashtra's political landscape.

On Tuesday, one of the defecting MPs, Omraje Nimbalkar, who represents the Dharashiv constituency, elaborated on his reasons. Speaking to reporters, Nimbalkar claimed that he had no funds remaining for development projects. “An MP gets funds for his five-year tenure under the MPLADS scheme. If funds remain unspent at the end of those five years, it means the MP failed to implement projects. However, evaluation should be done after the full term. In the period from 2019 to 2024, I spent every rupee allocated. Not a single rupee is left. Anyone can verify this on the MPLADS website,” he said.

The Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) allocates funds annually to MPs for small-scale development projects in their constituencies. Nimbalkar's assertion that his funds are exhausted suggests he utilized the entire allocation, contrary to the implication that funds were withheld.

The defection of six MPs highlights the ongoing factional rift within the Shiv Sena, which split in 2022 after Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray. The Shinde faction now controls the party's official name and symbol, while the Thackeray faction continues as a separate entity. Political analysts view this development as a consolidation of support for Shinde ahead of upcoming elections.

Neither the Shinde faction nor the Thackeray faction has officially commented on the defection. The MPLADS data is publicly accessible, and the claim of crores in balance, as reported earlier, could not be independently verified.