Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking disqualification of 12 rebel members of his party. “I have sought disqualification of 12 Shiv Sena rebel Lok Sabha members,” Raut, the leader of the Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party said after meeting the Speaker. The 12 Lok Sabha Members had declared Bhawana Gawli as the chief whip of the party and Rahul Shewale as their leader in the Lower House of the Parliament.The Speaker had recognized Shewale as the leader of Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha. Shewale had claimed that the 12 MPs had not formed a separate party, but merely replaced him as the leader by ousting Vinayak Raut. Raut was appointed by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray. Sanjay Raut, a close confidante of Uddhav Thackeray was appointed as the leader of Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

Eknath Shinde wishes Uddhav Thackeray, avoids reference as Shiv Sena chief

In a massive embarrassment to the Uddhav Thackeray camp, 12 of 19 Shiv Sena MPs had extended support to the Shinde camp during a crucial party meeting last month. The Shinde faction also recently created a national executive and claimed that the rebel group was the real Shiv Sena. While the shinde faction and Uddhav Thackeray faction are already locked in a legal battle over the ownership of the election symbol of the party, Shinde, on Wednesday, snubbed Thackeray by not referring to him as Shiv Sena chief, while wishing him on his birthday.