Shiv Sena (UBT) Split Deepens: Nimbalkar and Ashtikar Formally Defect to Eknath Shinde Faction
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) split deepened on Sunday as two rebel Lok Sabha MPs — Omraje Nimbalkar and Nagesh Patil Ashtikar — formally announced their defection to Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, becoming the first of the six rebel MPs to officially confirm the switch. Ashtikar made his announcement through a dramatic Facebook Live session, while Nimbalkar confirmed his move through a formal media statement — a double blow that pushes Uddhav Thackeray’s beleaguered faction closer to political irrelevance in Maharashtra.
The formal defections come days after all six rebel MPs reportedly submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking permission to merge with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena — a move that, if approved, would provide legal protection under the Anti-Defection Law and formalise the most significant split in the party’s history since 2022.
Ashtikar’s Facebook Live: The Grievances
Nagesh Patil Ashtikar’s decision to announce his defection through a Facebook Live video — addressing his constituents directly rather than through traditional media — was both unconventional and revealing:
Fund Crunch: Ashtikar, the Lok Sabha MP from Hingoli, cited an inability to carry out development work in his constituency as the primary reason for leaving the UBT faction. “Being in the opposition means having no access to government funds, no ministerial support, and no ability to deliver on promises made to voters,” Ashtikar said. The complaint speaks to a fundamental reality of Indian politics: in many constituencies, the MP’s effectiveness is directly tied to their proximity to the ruling dispensation.
Sanjay Raut Factor: In a pointed attack that will sting the UBT leadership, Ashtikar cited Sanjay Raut’s “insults” as a trigger for his departure. Raut, the Rajya Sabha MP and UBT’s most prominent spokesperson, has been accused by multiple party members of alienating allies and colleagues with his combative and uncompromising style. Ashtikar’s public criticism suggests that Raut’s approach has become a liability for the faction.
Nimbalkar’s Calculated Move
Omraje Nimbalkar, the MP from Osmanabad, confirmed his switch through more conventional channels but with equally significant implications:
Political Calculus: Nimbalkar’s constituency in the Marathwada region has been a traditional Shiv Sena stronghold. His defection to the Shinde faction is seen as a pragmatic response to ground-level political realities — where the Shinde-BJP alliance’s control of the Maharashtra government gives defecting MPs access to resources, patronage, and political support that the opposition UBT faction simply cannot match.
Timing: The formal announcement on June 22 — a day after the NEET retest dominated national headlines — ensured that the political story received sustained media coverage without competing with the examination news cycle. The timing suggests careful strategic planning by the Shinde camp.
Where Do the Other Four Stand?
Of the six rebel MPs who submitted the merger letter to Speaker Birla, Nimbalkar and Ashtikar are the first two to publicly confirm their switch. The remaining four are expected to formalise their positions in the coming days, though UBT leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that some rebels are “having second thoughts” — a claim that the Shinde camp has dismissed as “desperate posturing.”
The Anti-Defection Law’s provisions require careful navigation. If the six MPs constitute two-thirds of the UBT’s Lok Sabha strength, their merger with the Shinde faction would be legally protected. If they fall short of this threshold, they risk disqualification from Parliament — a prospect that adds legal urgency to the political manoeuvring.
Impact on Uddhav Thackeray
For Uddhav Thackeray, the formal confirmation of defections is another chapter in a political nightmare that began in June 2022 when Eknath Shinde led the first wave of departures from the undivided Shiv Sena. The loss of Lok Sabha MPs — elected on UBT tickets and representing the party’s presence in national politics — diminishes the faction’s bargaining power within the opposition INDIA alliance and raises existential questions about its future as a viable political force in Maharashtra.
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