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🇮🇳 India /Elections & Politics

Six UBT MPs Merge With Shinde Sena; Lok Sabha Speaker Approves

From Hindustan Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) lawmakers with the Shiv Sena.
  • The Speaker also allotted separate seating for 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs, whose party recognition is still under consideration.
  • These changes, ahead of the monsoon session, boost the Shiv Sena's presence in Parliament and bolster the National Democratic Alliance's numbers.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) lawmakers with the Shiv Sena party. The decision, made two days before the monsoon session of Parliament, also includes a separate seating arrangement for 20 rebel Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs.

The merger significantly increases the Shiv Sena's strength in Parliament, making it the largest NDA party from Maharashtra. The six MPs, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, and Sanjay Patil, had joined the Shiv Sena in June. Party chief Eknath Shinde had then announced, "Operation Tiger is a success."

The required process has been completed. All six MPs have joined the Shiv Sena. Operation Tiger is a success.

— Eknath ShindeShiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde's announcement after the six MPs joined his party.

The plan for the 20 TMC rebels to be recognized as members of the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) is still awaiting clearance. A senior official stated the matter is "under consideration" and an "appropriate decision would be taken shortly." If approved, the NDA's total strength in the Lok Sabha would reach 319 MPs, though still short of the two-thirds majority mark.

The Shiv Sena welcomed the Speaker's decision, with parliamentary party leader Shrikant Shinde stating, "These MPs were ignored by their leaders [in UBT]... They took the right decision by joining us." Shiv Sena (UBT) has indicated it will review the Speaker's order before deciding on its next steps.

These MPs were ignored by their leaders [in UBT]... They took the right decision by joining us. We will welcome them in the Sena.

— Shrikant ShindeShiv Sena parliamentary party leader commenting on the Speaker's decision.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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