NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant on Wednesday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him to refrain from granting any "recognition, status, privilege or facility" to any "purported faction or breakaway group claiming to represent the party."
In his letter, Sawant stated that "the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) continues to be recognised as a single political party represented in the House through its duly authorised leader and whip, and that no separate recognition, status, privilege or facility be accorded to any purported faction or breakaway group claiming to represent the party." He further requested that "no decision be taken on any such request, if received, without first affording the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) an opportunity to place its submissions before your office."
The letter also warned that "the party further reserves all rights available to it in law, including the right to invoke the provisions of the Tenth Schedule and pursue such remedies as may be necessary in relation to any conduct inconsistent with the constitutional principles referred to above."
Reports suggest that six of the nine Lok Sabha MPs belonging to the Shiv Sena (UBT) may be preparing to switch allegiance to the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. According to these reports, the MPs could travel to New Delhi and may seek recognition as a separate group in Parliament by submitting a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the coming days. The possibility of such a move has fueled speculation about another significant split within the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.
