Shiv Sena (UBT) has threatened disciplinary and legal action against 6 of its 9 Lok Sabha MPs after they failed to attend a key parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on Thursday. The development comes amid growing speculation about possible defections from the camp led by Uddhav Thackeray.
The meeting was convened by Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha leader Arvind Sawant and Chief Whip Anil Desai in the national capital. The gathering took place at a time when reports of unrest and possible rebellion within the party have intensified.
According to senior party leader Sanjay Raut, only 3 MPs attended the meeting, Arvind Sawant, Rajabhau Waje and Anil Desai.
Raut Says Absent MPs Violated Party Discipline
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Raut said the absence of the remaining six MPs was being treated as a breach of party discipline and the party whip. “Our Lok Sabha leaders, Arvind Sawant and our Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Anil Desai, they had called for a meeting of MPs today at 11 o’clock. In that meeting, three Lok Sabha MPs were present,” Raut said.
He made it clear that the party would not ignore the absence of the 6 MPs. “The members who did not attend are not being excused. We do not accept this as party discipline; this is being seen as a violation of party norms. Action against them has already begun,” Raut said.
Show-Cause Notices to Be Issued
Raut said the party’s first step would be to issue show-cause notices to the MPs who skipped the meeting.
“They will be issued show-cause notices, their replies will be sought, and we will proceed in the direction of seeking their disqualification,” he said.
Reiterating the party’s position, he added, “Three Lok Sabha MPs attended the meeting, Arvind Sawant, Rajabhau Waje and Anil Desai. I am from the Rajya Sabha. The MPs who did not attend it are found to be in violation of the party whip. So, action has been initiated. They will be served a show-cause notice, and a response will be sought from them. We will look towards the cancellation of their membership,” he said.
Sharp Attack on Rebel MPs
Raut also strongly criticised the absent MPs, accusing them of betraying the party under whose banner they were elected.
“We call them traitors, dishonest, and deceptive people. You are still members of the party. You contested elections in our party’s name and symbol. If you have violated the party whip, legal action will also have to be taken against you,” Raut said.
Raut Questions Reports of Speaker Meeting
Questioning claims that the 6 MPs had met the Lok Sabha Speaker, Raut said there was no public evidence of such a meeting. “When we met the Speaker yesterday, a photo came out in the public domain. If the other six MPs met the Speaker, show us a photo of the same. This is not called strategy, this is betrayal. They are still the members of our party and won on our symbol,” he said.
He further rejected suggestions that the developments were part of a planned political strategy, describing them as “betrayal, dishonesty, conspiracy and fraud.”
Party Crisis Deepens
The poor attendance at the parliamentary party meeting has added to uncertainty within Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Lok Sabha ranks. With the leadership now initiating disciplinary proceedings, the six absent MPs could face show-cause notices, legal action and possible disqualification if the party decides to escalate the matter.
