Sanjay Nirupam Dismisses Defection Claims Amid Shiv Sena UBT Exodus

Sanjay Nirupam has rejected claims that defecting MPs were lured by financial incentives, arguing instead that the ongoing exodus from the Shiv Sena (UBT) stems from profound dissatisfaction with Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership. He contends that lawmakers are abandoning the faction simply because their concerns remain ignored by a disconnected party high command.

Editorial·June 22, 2026·reads: 2,074

Sanjay Nirupam Dismisses Defection Claims Amid Shiv Sena UBT Exodus

Nirupam characterized the recent departures as a natural consequence of internal neglect. According to the Shiv Sena leader, MPs and MLAs feel increasingly isolated, claiming that leadership fails to answer calls or engage with the public. This lack of communication, he argues, has forced representatives to seek a political home where their survival and constituency development work can remain a priority.

Responding to allegations from Sanjay Raut, who labeled the defectors as traitors bought with illicit funds, Nirupam challenged the Rajya Sabha MP to produce evidence. He dismissed Raut as a compulsive liar prone to sensationalism. The political maneuvering comes as Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik claims that six additional UBT MPs are poised to join the Eknath Shinde-led faction, a move that would nearly double the group's presence in the Lok Sabha from seven to thirteen members.