Maharashtra political shift: Six UBT MPs defect to Eknath Shinde's camp

The defecting lawmakers—Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh, and Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar—were formally inducted in Mumbai. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde declared the operation complete, framing the transition as a commitment to development-focused governance rather than political maneuvering. Shinde urged the new arrivals to adopt a grassroots approach, promising that his administration would prioritize the needs of their respective constituencies.

While the ruling faction frames the recruitment as a natural consolidation of support, the UBT camp has responded with sharp condemnation. Uddhav Thackeray stated he would address the developments publicly at a later date, while MP Sanjay Raut publicly labeled the defectors as traitors. Opposition leaders, including Congress figure Tariq Anwar and Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi, characterized the shift as a byproduct of political horse-trading, arguing that the practice undermines democratic processes and ignores the mandate of the original voters. The split follows the 2022 rebellion that first divided the party, leaving the UBT faction with only three remaining Lok Sabha MPs.