In a significant political realignment, all six remaining Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) have officially defected to the rival Shiv Sena faction headed by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The mass exodus, confirmed in Mumbai this week, marks a decisive turning point in the ongoing power struggle for control over the ideological and political legacy of the late Bal Thackeray.<\/p>\n
The defection follows a tumultuous two-year period in Maharashtra politics that began in June 2022, when Eknath Shinde led a massive rebellion against then-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The move resulted in the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government and the formation of a new coalition between Shinde’s faction and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).<\/p>\n
Since the initial split, both factions have engaged in a protracted legal and political battle for the party name and the iconic ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol. The Election Commission of India eventually recognized the Shinde-led faction as the official Shiv Sena, leaving the Thackeray camp to operate under the Shiv Sena (UBT) banner.<\/p>\n
Addressing a press conference following the merger, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde framed the transition as a necessary step for the party’s survival. He characterized the move as a continuation of the 2022 split, intended to restore the organization to its foundational principles.<\/p>\n
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