Uddhav Thackeray faction claims 22 present in meeting after 6 MPs join Shinde

Following the official recognition of the merger of six Lok Sabha MPs from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction into the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Uddhav Thackeray convened a meeting of his party's legislators to project a show of strength. The meeting, held on June 22, 2026, saw 22 out of 26 legislators in attendance, with four reportedly absent. This gathering aimed to consolidate the remaining party members and strategize a response to the significant blow dealt by the defection of the six MPs. The six MPs—Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, and Sanjay Patil—officially joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Monday, June 22, 2026, marking the success of 'Operation Tiger'. This move increased the Shiv Sena's Lok Sabha strength from seven to 13, significantly reducing the Uddhav Thackeray faction's parliamentary presence to three MPs. The Lok Sabha Speaker, Om Birla, had approved this merger on Saturday, July 18, 2026, ahead of the monsoon session of Parliament. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has stated its intention to challenge this decision in court, deeming it illegal. During the legislative meeting, Uddhav Thackeray addressed the legislators, urging them to maintain a united front amidst the crisis caused by the defection of the MPs. He also instructed the MLAs and MLCs to engage proactively with party workers in the constituencies represented by the rebel MPs, signalling an effort to reinforce the party's ground presence and political outreach. Thackeray also asserted that his Shiv Sena is the 'only Shiv Sena', responding to remarks made by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The defections occurred after a period of intense speculation and amidst reports of 'Operation Tiger,' an alleged bid by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to engineer defections. Earlier, on June 18, 2026, a crucial parliamentary party meeting convened by Shiv Sena (UBT) in Delhi saw a low turnout, with only three of its nine Lok Sabha MPs attending, despite a party whip. The six absent MPs—Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Dina Patil, and Omraje Nimbalkar—were the ones who later officially joined the Shinde faction. The Shiv Sena (UBT) subsequently issued show-cause notices to these absent MPs. The split and subsequent merger have significant implications for the political landscape in Maharashtra and the national capital. The Shinde faction's increased strength in the Lok Sabha solidifies its position within the BJP-led NDA and strengthens its claim over the Shiv Sena's legacy. The Uddhav Thackeray faction, now reduced to a smaller parliamentary group, faces the challenge of retaining its political relevance and challenging the actions taken by the Lok Sabha Speaker. Prior to these events, there were attempts by the Shiv Sena (UBT) to project unity. On June 15, 2026, Sanjay Raut claimed that all nine Lok Sabha MPs had attended a "routine meeting" with Uddhav Thackeray, with four attending physically and five virtually. However, reports from the same day suggested only four MPs attended physically. Ultimately, the article focuses on Uddhav Thackeray's response to the defection of six MPs. His legislative meeting served as an attempt to consolidate his party's remaining strength and outline a strategy to counter the political blow and the actions of the rival faction and the Lok Sabha Speaker.

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