Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
New Delhi/Mumbai, Jul 18: In a significant political development ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has officially recognised the merger of six rebel Members of Parliament, who had broken away from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The decision formally acknowledges the six MPs as members of the Shinde faction, strengthening its position in the Lok Sabha and dealing a major setback to the Thackeray camp.
The MPs whose merger has been recognised are Omraje Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Nagesh Patil Ashtikar. The six legislators had earlier separated from the Thackeray faction, formed an independent group and subsequently sought its merger with Shinde's Shiv Sena.
With Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla approving the merger, the uncertainty surrounding the MPs' membership has come to an end, allowing them to continue as recognised members of the Shinde-led party.
The development comes just ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament, scheduled to begin on July 20.
Reacting to the decision, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde said the MPs had joined his faction to ensure faster development in their constituencies. He added that adequate development funds would be provided to support projects in their respective parliamentary segments.
The political dispute over the six MPs had been ongoing since they distanced themselves from the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. Anticipating the split, the Thackeray faction had initiated legal proceedings and maintained that the rebel MPs could face disqualification.
The Uddhav Thackeray camp had also written to the Lok Sabha Speaker, asserting that the party had never approved a merger with any other political formation and remained an independent organisation. It had requested that its objections be heard before any decision was taken.
However, the Lok Sabha Secretariat has now accepted the merger of the separate group formed by the six MPs into the Shinde faction and issued an official notification confirming the decision.
The ruling significantly boosts the Shinde-led Shiv Sena's numerical strength in the Lok Sabha while dealing another political setback to the Thackeray faction.
Following the decision, senior Thackeray faction leader and former Maharashtra Legislative Council Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve said the party would continue its legal battle and challenge the development through appropriate legal channels.