Uddhav Thackeray Calls Meeting Amid Speculation of MPs Switching Sides

Amid speculation that some Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs might switch sides, party chief Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting with his lawmakers on Sunday, sources told news agency PTI.

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena (UBT) on Sunday claimed that all of its nine MPs were present for the meeting called by party chief Uddhav Thackeray. However, five MPs attended the meeting online, while four were physically present at Matoshree. MPs Arvind Sawant, Rajabhau Vaje, Sanjay Dina Patil and Anil Desai were present in person, while five other MPs joined virtually. All those who attended online had given valid reasons to Uddhav for their absence, Sena (UBT) functionaries said.

The development assumes significance amid the buzz that some MPs might cross over to the Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, under “Operation Tiger”.

Sena (UBT) functionaries said MP Nagesh Ashtikar was busy with the MLC elections in his constituency. “MP Sanjay Jadhav spoke to Uddhav and after two days he will come and meet Uddhav. Sanjay Deshmukh has a wedding ceremony at home. Bhausaheb Wakchoure's wife is sick. He also attended through online mode. Om Raje Nimbalkar's son is sick, so he also joined online. Hence, all nine MPs were present in hybrid mode,” a senior Sena (UBT) functionary said.

Amid speculation that two-thirds of Sena (UBT) MPs could split and join Eknath Shinde’s Sena, Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray summoned all his MPs to Mumbai on Saturday, which was also Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray’s birthday. MPs were asked to stay in Mumbai, and Uddhav met all his MPs on Sunday.

Sena (UBT) has nine MPs in the Lok Sabha, and any split will require six MPs to cross the two-thirds majority mark. In the last few months, there have been several instances of Sena (UBT) MPs meeting Shinde or other senior leaders of the Shinde-led Sena, giving rise to speculation that a split could take place.

Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil Ashtikar recently visited Shinde at his official residence. Nashik MP Rajabhau Waje held a meeting with Sena MP Shrikant Shinde. Shirdi MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure met Industries Minister Uday Samant.

Jadhav created a stir last month by saying, “Economic calculations are important in elections, so it is impossible to say what will happen next.”

“I will never betray those who made me grow up, but the current situation has changed. Economic calculations are important in elections, so it is impossible to say what will happen next,” Jadhav had said while speaking at a public function.

In April, two Sena (UBT) MPs — Nagesh Ashtikar and Sanjay Deshmukh — attended a dinner meeting hosted by rival Shiv Sena Union Minister Pratap Jadhav, leading to speculation that there was a rift within Sena (UBT) and that a section of its MPs could break away.