Eknath Shinde to alter LS number game after Thackeray faction suffers fresh MP defections

Mumbai, June 18 (IANS) In a major political development that is set to reshape the power dynamics in the Lok Sabha, the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of the Shiv Sena suffered a fresh jolt after six of its Members of Parliament (MPs) skipped a crucial parliamentary party meeting on Thursday. The defection is heavily tilting the political scales in favour of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde, significantly boosting his leverage within the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) at the Centre.

The Thackeray faction had issued a strict whip to all its MPs to attend the parliamentary meeting. However, six MPs defied the order and stayed away. These rebel lawmakers are expected to formally submit a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker requesting to be recognised alongside Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction.

The NDA government at the Centre initially formed with the support of 293 MPs. Following a series of political realignments—including a recent shift of 20 former Trinamool Congress (TMC) rebels into the NCPI—the NDA’s strength crossed the 300-mark. Now, the addition of Thackeray’s 6 defecting MPs will further consolidate the ruling alliance’s absolute majority.

For Eknath Shinde, this represents a massive political revival. Shinde’s Shiv Sena had won 7 Lok Sabha seats on its own; adding these 6 defectors pushes his faction’s strength to 13 MPs in the lower house. With 13 MPs, Shinde’s Shiv Sena is projected to become the fourth-largest constituent within the NDA coalition, trailing only behind BJP (240 MPs), NCPI (20 MPs via the TMC split) and TDP (16).

This strategic move dramatically shifts the political narrative surrounding Shinde. Following the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections—where Devendra Fadnavis returned as Chief Minister, relegating Shinde to the Deputy CM role despite his party winning 57 seats—many political analysts speculated that Shinde’s national political influence was waning.

With this swift counter-strategy, Shinde has demonstrated that he remains a formidable strategist, significantly elevating his political weight in New Delhi. While the defection deals a crippling blow to Uddhav Thackeray’s national footprint, it also introduces a delicate balancing act for the BJP in Maharashtra.

An emboldened Eknath Shinde with 13 MPs in Delhi will possess far greater bargaining power regarding central ministries and state-level seat-sharing agreements, ensuring that his faction remains an indispensable pillar of the NDA framework. The rebel MPs have reportedly been moved from Delhi to a secure location by the Shinde faction as a precautionary measure, with an official announcement regarding their next moves expected around June 21.

–IANS

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