Lok Sabha Speaker Recognises Six Rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs as Shinde Faction Members

Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has suffered a major political setback after Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla approved the merger of six rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) Members of Parliament with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Following the Speaker's decision, the six MPs have been officially recognised as members of the Shinde faction in the Lok Sabha, increasing its strength to 13, while the Uddhav Thackeray faction has been reduced to just three MPs.

The rebel MPs had requested the Speaker to recognise them as members of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena after leaving the Uddhav camp. Although the Uddhav faction sought their disqualification under the anti-defection law, the Speaker ruled that the provisions did not apply because two-thirds of the parliamentary party had joined the Shinde faction. The development has drawn political attention, particularly as the Shinde-led Shiv Sena is a constituent of the NDA alliance, which is looking to strengthen its numbers in the Lok Sabha.