Devendra Fadnavis claims ‘massive unrest’ within Uddhav Sena: ‘will be out in public soon’

Fadnavis said, “The unrest within the Shiv Sena (UBT)’s entire organisation is due to three to four people. It will be out in the public soon. Why should I speak about it? Everybody will come to know about it.”

The remarks by the deputy chief minister have also come after the Thackeray-led Sena claimed in an editorial in the party mouthpiece, Saamana, that 22 MLAs and nine MPs could quit the faction led by Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde as they were feeling suffocated due to “step-motherly treatment” by the BJP. “A majority of the MPs and MLAs who have joined Shinde camp are reeling under uncertainty,” it added.

Fadnavis’s remarks also come ahead of the June 19 Foundation Day of the Shiv Sena, which both Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde lead factions are making mammoth preparations for to show off their strengths. It will also be an occasion to assert their rights over the parent party.

In June 2022, the Shiv Sena split with one faction coming under Thackeray and the other being led by Eknath Shinde. Forty out of the 56 Sena MLAs switched loyalties from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party to Eknath Shinde’s faction. Besides, out of the 18 Sena MPs representing Maharashtra, 12 joined Shinde’s side. Thackeray is presently left with 16 MLAs and six MPs from Maharashtra and one from Daman and Diu on his side.

Despite the split in the Sena, Thackeray has retained his hold amongst the Shiv Sainiks to a large extent. The Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) has been working with the BJP to further dent Thackeray’s organisational base at the grassroots.

After the Supreme Court verdict on the political fallout of the split in the Sena, the issues related to the disqualification of 16 MLAs, party rights, and chief whip have been referred to Maharashtra Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar. On his part, Narwekar has initiated the process to determine all complex issues regarding party status and the MLAs.