Split buzz in Shiv Sena UBT as MPs set to meet Eknath Shinde in Delhi today
According to sources, MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray faction are scheduled to meet at Shrikant Shinde's Delhi residence today.
PTC News Desk: Amid growing speculation about a group of MPs of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) planning to break away, several of them have remained unreachable with their phones switched off as internal dissent intensifies and key figures move to the national capital.
Uddhav Thackeray and other senior party leaders are making personal efforts to persuade the MPs. Meanwhile Arwind Sawant on behalf of the Sena (UBT) has written to Lok Sabha Spea ker Om Birla, urging him not to recognise rebel faction of the party.
According to sources, MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray faction are scheduled to meet at Shrikant Shinde's Delhi residence today. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shrikant Shinde are likely to be present in the meeting.
The sources further said that the MPs are also expected to meet Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla following the meeting with Shinde. If further sources are to be believed, at least six MPs from the Uddhav Thackrey faction are in talks with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The MPs are Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Sanjay Jadhav
Additionally, Rajabhau Waje is also rumoured to join the six MPs.
Ruling Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik indicated that dissidents would be welcomed and given priority if they decided to join the Eknath Shinde-led faction.
"If public representatives like MPs and MLAs do not trust their leadership... If they believe in the ideals of Sena founder Bal Thackeray and are willing to trust the leadership of Eknath Shinde, then the doors of the Shiv Sena are open to them," Sarnaik said. "We will give them priority if they thought of it (anytime) in the future."