In a significant political boost for Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and a setback for Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has recognised the merger of six rebel MPs with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The decision formally validates their switch under the anti-defection law ahead of Parliament’s Monsoon Session beginning July 20.
The six MPs had left the Uddhav Thackeray camp last month and joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, increasing the faction’s strength in the Lok Sabha to 13 members.
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Earlier this week, Shinde had expressed confidence that the merger would receive the Speaker’s approval, asserting that the process was conducted in a legally sound manner. He said the MPs had joined with the support of the required two-thirds majority and had completed all constitutional formalities after consulting legal experts.
According to Shinde, the parliamentarians submitted the necessary documents and video recordings before meeting the Speaker. He maintained that the merger complied with the provisions of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which allows legislators to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law if at least two-thirds of a legislature party agree to merge with another political formation.
The Uddhav Thackeray-led faction had opposed the move, arguing that the merger did not fulfil the legal requirement of representing two-thirds of the party’s organisational structure. However, Shinde insisted that the issue rested with the Speaker and maintained that due process had been followed.
The Speaker’s recognition further strengthens the Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha and marks another milestone in the continuing political and legal battle between the rival Sena factions since the party split in 2022.
