DK Shivakumar visits Matoshree as Uddhav Thackeray faces internal revolt

The meeting at Thackeray's Mumbai residence included Rashmi Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, and MP Sanjay Raut. While the official line from both camps emphasized a cordial exchange on public interest, the timing suggests a deeper concern regarding the stability of the Sena (UBT). Speculation of a potential merger with the Congress has circulated, though Thackeray explicitly dismissed such a union during the party's recent Foundation Day, asserting the organization remains independent.

Simultaneously, the party’s internal cohesion is fraying. Chief Whip Anil Desai issued show-cause notices to six Lok Sabha MPs who bypassed a parliamentary party meeting, granting them a 24-hour window to explain their absence or face disqualification under the Anti-Defection Law. The stakes are significant: if two-thirds of the parliamentary group defects, they could potentially bypass disqualification rules by claiming a merger. Complicating the landscape, Union Home Minister Amit Shah declared in Kolhapur that the Eknath Shinde-led faction is now the only legitimate Shiv Sena, effectively sidelining the UBT faction in the eyes of the BJP leadership. Shivakumar, who was in the city to attend a wedding, maintained that his discussion with Thackeray was focused on broader regional politics.