Mumbai: The political uncertainty surrounding the Shiv Sena (UBT) deepened on Saturday as the party continued to express confidence that Dharashiv MP Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar would remain with the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp despite ongoing speculation about a possible split among its Lok Sabha members.
Nimbalkar, who is among six parliamentarians facing scrutiny from the party leadership, stated that he would take a final call on his political future only after consulting the people of his constituency. His remarks came amid heightened political activity following the absence of six MPs from the party’s parliamentary meeting in New Delhi earlier this week.
Senior leaders in Shiv Sena (UBT) indicated that they remain optimistic about Nimbalkar’s position and believe he may not join the dissident group. Party insiders suggested that efforts are underway to maintain unity and prevent further erosion of strength in Parliament.
The controversy began after six Lok Sabha MPs skipped the party’s parliamentary gathering on June 17, triggering speculation that they could align with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Those absent included Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar.
In response, the party issued show-cause notices to the lawmakers on June 18 and sought explanations within 24 hours. However, according to party leaders, none of the MPs has submitted a reply so far. The silence has intensified concerns about a potential rebellion within the opposition faction.
The numerical significance of the development is considerable. Shiv Sena (UBT) currently has nine members in the Lok Sabha. Under anti-defection provisions, a group would require the support of at least two-thirds of the parliamentary strength to avoid disqualification proceedings. The rebel bloc, therefore, needs six MPs to meet that threshold.
Speaking after a special court verdict in the long-running murder case related to his father, former Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar maintained that he would announce his decision after discussing the matter with local voters. He also emphasized that he had never spoken against party chief Uddhav Thackeray or MLA Aaditya Thackeray and had no intention of doing so in the future.
The MP also expressed disappointment over the court ruling that acquitted former NCP minister Padamsinh Patil and several others in the two-decade-old case. His comments reflected emotional dissatisfaction with the outcome while avoiding any direct political linkage to his future plans.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders continued to send mixed signals of reconciliation and discipline. Rajya Sabha MP Anil Desai suggested that those who had waited years for justice would now be able to identify genuine supporters from political opportunists.
Aaditya Thackeray adopted a conciliatory tone, stating that party workers and leaders willing to return would be welcomed. He highlighted that Uddhav Thackeray has always kept the party doors open for those who wish to remain part of the organisation. At the same time, he cautioned that disciplinary action would follow against individuals who deliberately work against the party’s interests.
When questioned about direct communication with Nimbalkar, Aaditya Thackeray clarified that there had been no recent contact between them.
The political drama gained further attention after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that various forms of pressure were being used to encourage defections from the party. He had also claimed that Nimbalkar was offered incentives linked to the legal proceedings concerning his father’s murder case. Nimbalkar, however, firmly rejected those allegations and denied any connection between the court verdict and his political choices.
Party MP Arvind Sawant confirmed that the show-cause notices remain unanswered despite the deadline having passed. According to party sources, the leadership is now evaluating its next course of action, which may include approaching the Lok Sabha Speaker and seeking disqualification proceedings against lawmakers accused of violating party directives.
As speculation continues over the future of the dissident MPs, the coming days are expected to be crucial for Shiv Sena (UBT). Nimbalkar’s decision, in particular, could influence the balance of power within the parliamentary wing of the party and determine whether the rebel group can gather enough support to challenge the existing leadership structure.
With no formal responses submitted and political negotiations continuing behind the scenes, attention remains focused on whether reconciliation efforts succeed or whether the dispute escalates into a full fledged legal and political battle.