Sanjay Raut Claims Bid To Lure Shiv Sena UBT MPs Amid Split Buzz
Shiv Sena (UBT) faces fresh split buzz after Sanjay Raut alleged a bid to lure party MPs with money offers.
Political Tension Rises In Shiv Sena UBT
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has alleged that attempts are being made to lure Members of Parliament from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, adding fresh tension to Maharashtra politics amid speculation over a possible rebellion within the party.
The issue gained attention on June 17 after Raut claimed that some MPs were being offered money to switch sides. His remarks came amid reports that a section of Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs may be considering a move towards the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Raut Alleges Money Offer To MPs
According to Raut’s allegation, Rs 15 crore was being offered as an advance, while the total amount could go up to Rs 50 crore per MP. He claimed that efforts were being made to “buy” MPs from Maharashtra and said such actions were damaging to democracy.
Raut strongly criticised any possible defection and said MPs elected on the Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket should first resign if they want to join another political camp. He said the MPs had won because of the party symbol, Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership, and the support of Shiv Sena (UBT) workers.
Party Issues Whip Ahead Of Meeting
The Uddhav Thackeray-led party has issued a whip ahead of its parliamentary party meeting in Delhi. Party leaders have also written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, requesting that any developments involving its MPs should be handled strictly according to constitutional provisions.
Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai said no MP had officially informed the party about leaving. They said reports of a possible rebellion were coming through the media and social media, while the party was taking legal precautions.
Defection Buzz Brings Back 2022 Split Memories
The latest political developments have once again brought the focus back to the anti-defection law and the stability of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction. The issue has also revived memories of the 2022 Shiv Sena split, when Eknath Shinde broke away with several MLAs and later formed the government with BJP support.
Raut said the party would not remain silent if elected representatives tried to shift sides without respecting the mandate given by voters. He also indicated that any such move would be challenged legally.
UBT Says MPs Remain With Party
As of now, Shiv Sena (UBT) has maintained that its MPs remain with the party. Party leaders said they have no official information about any split and are responding only to reports circulating in the media.
The situation may become clearer after the parliamentary party meeting, where the leadership is expected to review the developments and decide its next legal and political steps.
