Exactly four years after Eknath Shinde split the Shiv Sena by walking away with 40 of its 55 MLAs, he appears poised to deliver another major blow to Uddhav Thackeray — this time in Parliament.
Six of the nine Lok Sabha MPs elected on the Shiv Sena (UBT) symbol are expected to seek recognition as a separate group and then merge with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, according to party sources.
This move would significantly weaken Uddhav Thackeray's hold on the party's parliamentary wing and strengthen Shinde's position ahead of the next general elections. The development marks the second round of the ongoing political battle between the two Shiv Sena factions.
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