Shiv Sena Factional Split Reaches Speaker’s Office

Six members of the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction have crossed the floor to join Eknath Shinde’s camp, deepening the crisis within Shiv Sena. The move has prompted an urgent appeal to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, as both sides brace for a high-stakes ruling on the legality of the defections.

Editorial·June 24, 2026·reads: 876

Shiv Sena Factional Split Reaches Speaker’s Office

MPs Anil Desai and Arvind Sawant met with Birla to voice formal grievances regarding the recent party migration. The UBT faction is banking on the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution to challenge the validity of the shift, seeking a guarantee that the Speaker will uphold anti-defection statutes rather than political expediency. Birla has signaled that any forthcoming decision will remain grounded in constitutional mandate.

The defection has drawn sharp condemnation from Congress, which claims the ruling party is systematically undermining democratic norms by poaching opposition members. As the legal and political maneuvering continues, the focus remains on the Speaker’s chamber, where the interpretation of party loyalty and legislative standing will determine the future of the splintered organization.