- By Shubham Bajpai
- Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:19 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Six rebel Lok Sabha MPS of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) formally crossed over to Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena on Monday, ending weeks of speculations and rumours.
The six rebel MPs, Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh and Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar, joined Shiv Sena in the presence of Shinde at YV Chauhan Centre in Mumbai.
Taking an apparent jibe at UBT leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, Eknath Shinde said they have three Sanjays so there was no need for any other Sanjay. "Today, 6 MPs have joined us. Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh and Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar. So we have 3 Sanjays here with us. We have another Sanjay Rathod (MLA) here also. When we have Sanjay here, no need to talk about any other Sanjay, and you know who I am talking about," Shinde said.
Shinde also called the joining MPs 'tiger', a name gover to the entire operation of convincing them to switch. He said, "The six lions have arrived. They have all now become part of the real Shiv Sena family. I welcome them to the real Shiv Sena family."
Eknath Shinde stressed, "Earlier, we rebelled to save the party's election symbol, the bow and arrow, and the Shiv Sena party. Now the second phase has begun."
Shiv Sena UBT had 9 MPs in the Lok Sabha, out of which 6 joined Shinde. The number of rebel MPs make up a two-third majority which prevents their defection under Schedule 10.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray faction called an urgent parliamentary meeting in Delhi to discuss the breakaway and chalk out future course of action. However, the party now only has 3 MPs who attended the meeting.