Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs reportedly planning to leave party

Speculation is growing that six of the nine Lok Sabha MPs from Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) may leave the party. The six MPs—Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Dina Patil, and Omraje Nimbalkar—were absent from a meeting of the party's parliamentary group in Delhi on Thursday.

These MPs had helped the Shiv Sena (UBT) perform strongly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, despite the organisational setback the party faced after the 2022 split. That split, led by current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saw several legislators leave the Shiv Sena, but the UBT faction retained its core support in some areas.

Sanjay Jadhav

Sanjay Jadhav, 56, is a three-term MP from Parbhani and has been a long-time loyalist of the Thackeray family. He remained with Uddhav Thackeray after the 2022 split, even as many other MPs moved to the Shinde camp. Known as Bandu Jadhav, he has spent his entire political career in the undivided Shiv Sena. He began working for the party in Parbhani in the early 1990s, won the assembly seat in 2004 and 2009, and has held the Parbhani Lok Sabha seat since 2014. Parbhani has been a Shiv Sena stronghold for decades, and after the 2022 split, the district unit largely stayed with Uddhav. However, recent organisational changes have caused discontent among party workers, and Jadhav himself expressed dissatisfaction. At a public event, he said, “I am with you today, cannot say about tomorrow,” fuelling speculation.

Sanjay Deshmukh

Sanjay Deshmukh, 58, is a first-time MP from Yavatmal-Washim. He fuelled defection rumours after meeting Union Minister and Shinde Sena leader Prataprao Jadhav shortly after skipping a meeting called by Uddhav. Deshmukh has a history of switching parties. He began his career with the undivided Shiv Sena under Bal Thackeray, left in 1999 due to differences, and later joined the Congress. He was a minister of state in a Congress-NCP government. He later joined the BJP in 2017 but contested as an independent in subsequent elections before joining the Shiv Sena (UBT). His political journey reflects shifting alliances in Maharashtra.

Context and Implications

The potential defections come amid reports of internal dissatisfaction within the Shiv Sena (UBT) over leadership and organisational issues. If these MPs leave, it would reduce the party's Lok Sabha strength from nine to three and could affect its political standing in the state. The Shinde-led Shiv Sena, which is in alliance with the BJP, may gain from these defections. However, no official confirmation has been made by any of the MPs or party leaders.