Shiv Sena (UBT) has sent a strong letter to its six rebel Members of Parliament (MPs), denying reports that they are seeking a merger with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena party. The party claimed such a merger has not been brought about by the leadership of the party, nor approved nor permitted by the leadership of the party.
Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary party leader Arvind Sawant had reminded MPs that they were elected by the name of the party and on the party’s symbol under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray who polled more votes than Eknath Shinde’s candidates.
In a letter to the party, it was informed about reports in the public domain that the six MPs were trying to create the impression of a merger between Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Shinde group. It also alleged that the MPs approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting for acknowledgment of alleged merger.
Sawant, however, cited provisions of Tenth Schedule to the Constitution which relate to anti-defection laws and argued that the merger has not happened as per the Constitution. He also noted that the Lok Sabha Speaker has failed to give an order for such a unification.
Six of Shiv Sena (UBT)’s nine Lok Sabha MPs recently defected to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. All legal aspects of the mergers have been fulfilled, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said, but the Speaker has not made an end call on the issue, which has left the political and legal wrangle unresolved.