Uddhav Sena Moves Supreme Court Against Speaker's Approval of Shinde MPs' Merger

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) has moved the Supreme Court challenging Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla's decision to approve the merger of six Members of Parliament with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. The petition, filed ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, seeks to set aside the Speaker's order, alleging that the approval of the merger is unconstitutional. A Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that it would consider listing the matter for hearing.

According to the petition, the merger has increased the strength of the Shinde faction to 13 MPs in the Lok Sabha, while the Uddhav Thackeray faction has been reduced to three MPs. The UBT faction argued before the Supreme Court that elected representatives joining hands with the political group they had opposed during elections violates constitutional principles. The party has requested the apex court to quash the Speaker's decision and provide appropriate relief.