New Delhi, June 17 (ANI): MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction on Wednesday met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla as speculation mounted over a possible split within the party.
Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, and Sanjay Raut arrived in Parliament to apprise the speaker of reports surrounding what is being termed “Operation Tiger.”
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Arvind Sawant said, “We apprised him that whatever news is coming out, no one has come and told you that he is leaving the party. Even if they come, the speaker must act according to the Constitution. There is also the anti-defection law, according to which a group cannot be recognized. This is the first thing.”
Senior MP Sanjay Raut said the speaker had assured them that he would act in accordance with the rules and regulations.
“The Speaker is a respectable person for us. We regard him. He assured us that the law, rules and regulations will be kept in mind in the matter,” Raut said.
MP Anil Desai said, “We have given a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker stating that if any group comes to him, he should first inform us. Only a party can merge; there is no provision for a group to merge with any party.”
The meeting comes amid intense political speculation in Maharashtra over the future of Shiv Sena (UBT), with reports suggesting that a section of the party’s MPs may break away. However, no official announcement regarding any split has been made by the party.
“Operation Tiger” has fueled speculation that seven of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are in touch with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and are considering joining the ruling party.
In 2022, Shinde, along with several MLAs, broke away from Uddhav Thackeray, splitting the Shiv Sena into two factions.
Earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP from Nashik Rajabhau Waje dismissed reports of any rift within the party and reaffirmed his support for Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
“I am with Uddhav ji and will remain with him. I have no contacts with anyone else. I have not received any call, and no contact has been established with me by Shinde ji. I am not upset, and I am with them (Shiv Sena-UBT),” Waje told ANI.
Clarifying the purpose of his visit to the national capital, the Nashik MP said, “I have come here for a committee meeting.”
Amid speculation over a possible split within Shiv Sena (UBT), Waje said only a few leaders were physically present at the emergency meeting convened by Uddhav Thackeray two days ago, while others joined virtually.
Speaking to reporters upon arriving in Delhi, Waje said, “Nothing much happened. Four people were physically present at that meeting, and five people spoke to Uddhav ji through video conferencing.”
When asked about reports of some MPs breaking away from the party and whether they had the required numbers, Waje refrained from commenting, saying he was not aware of the latest developments.
“I don’t know yet. You are talking to me while I’m still on the train. I haven’t even gotten down. What would I know? There is no network on the train,” Rajabhau Waje told ANI. (ANI)
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