The political crisis within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is expected to intensify, with six rebel Members of Parliament likely to publicly explain the reasons behind their decision to part ways with the party.
Sources said the parliamentarians are expected to outline the circumstances that led them to break away from the Thackeray-led outfit.
The development comes as the Shiv Sena (UBT), formed under Uddhav Thackeray after the 2022 split in the original Shiv Sena, faces the possibility of another major division that could further weaken the party’s political position in Maharashtra.
The Sena (UBT) currently has nine MPs in the Lok Sabha, of whom six are reported to have joined the rebel camp.
According to sources, some of the MPs are travelling from different parts of the country to attend the press conference. The rebels had earlier met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and informed him about their decision. They are believed to have argued that their move was prompted by what they described as a departure from the party’s core ideology and therefore should not attract provisions of the anti-defection law.
Sources indicated that the MPs could meet the Speaker again if required and may also hold discussions with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde before formally announcing support for him.
Despite indications of a second split within the Thackeray camp, an official announcement has not yet been made.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has issued show-cause notices to the rebel MPs for allegedly skipping a parliamentary party meeting. The party is also expected to seek action regarding their parliamentary memberships.
Amid the growing crisis, Uddhav Thackeray has launched an outreach exercise aimed at strengthening the party organisation and preventing further defections.
As part of this effort, he is scheduled to visit several constituencies represented by rebel MPs, including Yavatmal, Parbhani, Hingoli, Dharashiv and Shirdi.
Sources said the tour is intended to reassure party workers and consolidate support on the ground. During the visit, Thackeray is also expected to hold meetings with district-level leaders and office-bearers.
The outreach programme comes at a crucial time for the Sena (UBT), which is attempting to contain the fallout from the latest rebellion while preserving its organisational strength ahead of future political battles in Maharashtra.