Shiv Sena Factions Clash Over MP Allegations Amidst Defection Rumors

Two of the six Sena UBT MPs said to be part of the breakaway group, Omraje Nimbalkar from Dharashiv and Sanjay Patil from Mumbai North East, have not signed the letter sent to LS Speaker for recognition as a separate group, Sena UBT claimed.

Patil and Nimbalkar claimed they were not in New Delhi on Wednesday. But Shinde Sena sources said 'Operation Tiger' or the process of getting the six MPs on its side had been completed barring public announcement. Except for Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai from Mumbai and Rajabhau Waze from Nashik, others were now part of the separate group, sources said.

Nimbalkar, however, said he had decided to make his stand clear after June 20, and Sanjay Patil said he was in Mumbai. "I'm tired of this speculation. If something is going to happen, it will happen. There is no point in discussing this. I will not go anywhere for any rebel MPs' list. I've not been invited by Shinde Sena, so why should I go to them? I'm not in touch with other MPs," Sanjay Patil said.

UBT Sena issued a 'whip' for a parliamentary party meeting to be held in Delhi on Thursday, to see how many MPs are with it. It would be hoping that more than 3 LS MPs attend; if that happens, it will be a setback for Shinde Sena as rebel MPs' number then would not meet the 2/3rds requirement for a separate group that then merges with a party.

Raut, addressing a presser in New Delhi with just three of the party's MPs with him (Sawant, Desai and Waze), alleged there was pressure on Omraje Nimbalkar to join Shinde Sena. Raut said that 20 years ago, Omraje's father was killed, and trial in the case was on. "If he joins Shinde Sena, he will get relief from court," he claimed.

The case is about the June 2006 assassination of prominent Congress neta Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver in Navi Mumbai. A CBI court in Mumbai is scheduled to deliver its verdict in the case on June 20.

Raut claimed that the MPs were reportedly being offered Rs 50 crore each, and Rs 15 crore was "just the advance."

In a post on X on Tuesday night, where he tagged CM Devendra Fadnavis, Raut said, "Apna Sapna Money Money! It's shocking and revolting that Maharashtra MPs are reportedly being offered Rs 15 crore each tonight to switch sides."

Reacting to Raut's post, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra claimed in a post on Wednesday, "Rs 15 cr? Saste mein kyo jaa rahe hai? Believe ours got Rs 4cr up front and Rs 1cr a month for next 36 months of term... Honey plus Money."

Raut responded to her, saying, "No no - Mahua ji, Minimum Support Price is fixed at Rs 50 crore per MP. Rs 15 crore is just the advance. Frankly, these people aren't even worth Rs 50,000. Their price has only gone up because of the Shiv Sena and TMC brand labels."