Uddhav Thackeray faces toughest challenge as MPs eye defection

Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) is confronting its most severe existential crisis yet, with reports indicating six Members of Parliament are preparing to switch allegiance to the Eknath Shinde-led faction. This situation unfolds on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the Shiv Sena, a party once dominant in Mumbai politics for four decades.

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Whoever wants to leave the party can quit.

Amidst the defections, Thackeray initially expressed a defiant stance, stating, "Whoever wants to leave the party can quit." However, he has since engaged in strategy talks with senior colleagues. His party is exploring legal avenues to prevent the defections, with leaders like Sanjay Raut and Anil Desai consulting legal experts in New Delhi. A key challenge highlighted by party members is the lack of a Supreme Court judgment on their petition against the Election Commission's order that allowed the Shinde faction to use the Shiv Sena name and symbol.

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Our legal side would have been strong had the Supreme Court given its judgment on the Sena (UBT)’s petition challenging the Election Commission’s order permitting the Shinde faction to use the Shiv Sena nomenclature and the party’s ‘bow and arrow’ symbol.

Political observers and analysts view Thackeray's current challenge as particularly difficult, attributing it to the rapidly changing landscape of Indian politics and the significant financial power of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "It's all about money. No political party can match the BJP's funds and resources. MPs and legislators are willing to be bought over. The audacity with which the BJP is doing this is vulgar," commented writer and Sena chronicler Prakash Akolkar.

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It’s all about money. No political party can match the BJP’s funds and resources. MPs and legislators are willing to be bought over. The audacity with which the BJP is doing this is vulgar.

Despite the internal turmoil, some younger party members advocate for a direct confrontation with the BJP. They believe it is time to challenge what they perceive as a "sinister design" to dismantle opposition parties nationwide. This sentiment is captured in Raut's recent social media post, which suggests that MPs are being offered substantial sums to switch sides, framing it as a potential catchphrase against the BJP's alleged tactics.

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Apna Sapna Money Money! It’s shocking and revolting that Maharashtra MPs are reportedly being offered ₹15 crore each tonight to switch sides.