Sena (UBT) sends notices to 6 rebel MPs, says merger with rival Sena legally not possible

Mumbai, Jul 14 (PTI) The Shiv Sena (UBT) has sent legal notices to its six rebel Lok Sabha MPs, asserting that the merger of the Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit with the rival Shiv Sena was not permissible under law, while Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde dismissed the opposition party's move as inconsequential. In letters dated July 13, Sena (UBT) MP and party's parliamentary leader Arvind Sawant told each of the six MPs that they had contested and won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on the Shiv Sena (UBT) symbol and under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray after fighting against candidates fielded by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. "The original political party has neither initiated, agreed to nor permitted any merger with the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde," Sawant said, adding that the party had learnt through reports in the public domain that the MPs were claiming a merger with the Shinde-led Sena and had approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition of the purported merger. Citing Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule to the Constitution, Sawant said a merger of a legislature party could arise only after a merger of the original political party. "In the absence of any merger of the original political party, no question of any merger of the legislature party arises. Further, no such merger is permissible or contemplated in law," he said. Sawant also said the party had already informed the Lok Sabha Speaker that no request seeking recognition of any merger or separate group of MPs elected on the Shiv Sena (UBT) symbol should be entertained. He added that the Speaker had not passed any order recognising any claim of merger. Six of the Shiv Sena (UBT)'s nine Lok Sabha MPs -- Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East), Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli), Omprakash Rajenimbalkar (Dharashiv) and Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi) -- joined the Shinde-headed Shiv Sena on June 22. The Lok Sabha Speaker is yet to make his decision public on their claim, though Shinde has maintained that all legal formalities have been completed. Reacting to the notices, Shinde on Tuesday told reporters here that the rebel MPs had already met the Lok Sabha Speaker, submitted the required documents and fulfilled all procedural requirements. "Our MPs have thrown the letter into the dustbin. Who pays attention to such letters? What matters in the House is the two-thirds majority. Six MPs have met the Lok Sabha Speaker, submitted their letter and completed all the required formalities. This is a desperate attempt by the Thackeray camp. Their letter will have no impact whatsoever on the MPs," Shinde said. Most of the rebel MPs declined to comment, saying Shinde had already responded on their behalf. Hingoli MP Nagesh Ashtikar confirmed receiving Sawant's letter but said he saw no reason to reply. "I received the letter and I don't think there is any reason to give a response to it," Ashtikar said. According to the Shiv Sena, the six Lok Sabha MPs on Tuesday called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured them of full support from the Centre for development works in their constituencies. Shah welcomed the MPs and assured them that there would be no shortage of central assistance, including funds, for welfare schemes and development projects in their constituencies, the party said in a statement. PTI ND NP