The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction has issued a stern 24-hour ultimatum to six of its Lok Sabha Members of Parliament who were absent from a crucial parliamentary party meeting. The party has warned of disqualification under the anti-defection law if the MPs fail to provide a satisfactory written explanation for their absence within the stipulated timeframe.
Show Cause Notices Issued Amid ‘Operation Tiger’ Rumors
The crisis within the Shiv Sena (UBT) deepened following the absence of six out of its nine Lok Sabha MPs from a mandatory meeting convened by the party leadership in New Delhi. The meeting, held on Thursday, was attended by only three MPs: Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, and Rajabhau Waje. The absent lawmakers are Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, and Bhausaheb Wakchaure.
The party’s Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha, Anil Desai, formally served the show-cause notices. These notices demand a written explanation within 24 hours, stating that failure to respond will be construed as voluntarily giving up party membership. This move initiates the process for potential disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, commonly known as the anti-defection law.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the notices were issued following a meeting where senior leader Sanjay Raut asserted that those who skipped the meeting would be considered “traitors.” The party leadership has emphasized that if the Lok Sabha Speaker acts according to the rules and the Supreme Court’s directives, these MPs will face disqualification.
Growing Speculation of Party Split
The absence of the six MPs has intensified speculation surrounding ‘Operation Tiger,’ a purported move to engineer defections from the Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. Reports suggest that these MPs are likely to join the ruling Shiv Sena. This situation marks the second significant rebellion within the Shiv Sena (UBT) in four years.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that one of the absent MPs, Omraje Nimbalkar, is currently in Pune and has indicated that he will make a decision regarding his political future only after a special CBI court in Mumbai delivers its verdict in a 2006 murder case in which his late father was the victim. Other reports suggest that some of the dissident MPs have been moved to Rajasthan, although at least two were confirmed to be in Maharashtra. Sources close to one of the MPs indicated that no final decision on joining any rebellion had been taken yet.
Adding to the political maneuvering, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has hinted at further defections from the Uddhav Thackeray camp. In response to the growing crisis, Uddhav Thackeray himself has stated his readiness to resign if the party members lose faith in his leadership.
Party’s Stance and Legal Recourse
Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have stressed that the party will pursue all available legal avenues to ensure the disqualification of the absent MPs if they do not offer a satisfactory explanation. The party’s leadership views the absence from a mandatory meeting, despite a three-line whip, as a direct violation of party discipline and constitutional provisions related to defection.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership has stated that questions will be posed regarding the MPs’ awareness of the meeting, their communication channels (including messages and WhatsApp), and the lack of any prior notification about their inability to attend. The party intends to examine the absence in this context.
The political developments in Maharashtra are being closely watched, as any further splits or defections could significantly alter the state’s political landscape. The Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership appears determined to take a firm stance against perceived acts of indiscipline and to protect the party’s integrity amidst these challenges.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
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