Amit Shah declares Eknath Shinde-led outfit the ‘only Shiv Sena’ amid rebellion in Uddhav camp
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), declaring that there is now only one Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and that it is led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Addressing a public gathering in Kolhapur, Shah said that earlier people referred to the party as the “Shiv Sena-Shinde faction“, but that distinction no longer exists.
“Earlier, people used to say Shiv Sena-Shinde faction after Eknath Shinde ji’s name. Now there is no faction left. There is only one Shiv Sena,” Shah said.
His remarks came amid growing turmoil within Shiv Sena (UBT), with six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs moving to form a separate parliamentary group.
VIDEO | Kolhapur, Maharashtra: Addressing a public gathering, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, says, “Earlier, people had to say ‘Shiv Sena-Shinde faction’ after Eknath Shinde ji’s name. But now no faction remains anymore… there is only one Shiv Sena.”#AmitShah #ShivSena
(Full… pic.twitter.com/NH3BI5XDt4
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 20, 2026
Six MPs seek separate identity
The political storm intensified after six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs skipped a parliamentary party meeting convened in New Delhi and instead submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition as a separate group.
The rebel MPs are Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar and Bhausaheb Wakchaure. Reports suggest the group could eventually merge with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, strengthening support for the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre.
Only three MPs—Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje—attended the meeting called by the Uddhav Thackeray-led party leadership.
Show-cause notices issued
In response, Shiv Sena (UBT) moved swiftly against the absent MPs. Party chief whip in the Lok Sabha Anil Desai issued show-cause notices to all six leaders, demanding a written explanation within 24 hours.
The notices warn that failure to respond would be treated as voluntarily giving up party membership, potentially triggering action under the Anti-Defection Law contained in the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
The developments have added fresh momentum to what political circles have dubbed “Operation Tiger“, a reported effort to engineer defections from the Uddhav Thackeray camp.
Shah highlights Maharashtra’s heritage projects
During his Kolhapur address, Shah also praised the Maharashtra government’s efforts to redevelop religious and cultural sites, including the renovation and corridor project at the Ambabai Temple.
He said the initiatives reflect Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s vision of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” (development alongside heritage preservation).
“In Maharashtra, all Jyotirlingas and Shakti Peeths are being redeveloped and revitalised. This is a matter of pride for all of us,” Shah said.
The latest rebellion has pushed Shiv Sena (UBT) into one of its most serious crises since the 2022 split that led to the formation of the Eknath Shinde-led government in Maharashtra.
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