More Trouble For Uddhav Thackeray: 6 MPs Jump Ship, 3 MLAs Skip Crucial Shiv Sena (UBT) Meeting

Maharashtra: Uddhav Thackeray's troubles are not ending. Six MPs formally left the party on Monday. Now three MLAs and one MLC did not show up at Monday's meeting. This is creating fresh questions about the party's stability. Thackeray called a meeting of all party MLAs and MPs on Monday. The timing was awful, because six of his own MPs were joining Eknath Shinde's rival Shiv Sena faction at the same time.

What is the missing faces?

Three MLAs, Sanjay Derkar, Rahul Patil and Sanjay Potnis—did not attend. Neither did MLC Sunil Shinde. All four gave reasons for their absence. Rahul Patil said he was busy counting votes for the legislative council elections. He was also preparing for Thackeray's upcoming tour to Parabhani. Sunil Shinde said he was in his hometown Chiplun and was heading back to Mumbai. Potnis did not explain why he skipped the meeting. But he said he is still with Shiv Sena (UBT).

What was the meeting about?

The meeting was held on Monday at the party's Shivalay office. It was the first day of the monsoon session in the Maharashtra assembly. Thackeray wanted to plan how to attack the government during the session.
The meeting lasted one hour. All the MLAs who came took a group photo with Thackeray to show party strength. Shiv Sena (UBT) has 20 MLAs and 6 MLCs in the Maharashtra assembly. With three MLAs absent, and only about 17 showed up.

What the party had said?

MLC Ambadas Danve said this was a legislative party meeting. He said they discussed issues facing farmers, common people and Mumbai. They also talked about water shortages in Vidarbha and Marathwada regions. Danve said Shiv Sena (UBT) is the largest opposition party in the assembly. So they need to work aggressively and in an organized way. He said another MVA meeting is scheduled for Wednesday. Danve also said they are still claiming the Leader of Opposition position.

The bigger picture?

The party is falling apart. First six MPs left. Now three MLAs are not showing up for important meetings. The party is trying to look strong in front of the media. But the cracks are showing. Shinde's faction has momentum. They are picking up Thackeray's own people. The timing of the MPs joining Shinde, right while Thackeray was meeting his MLAs just 500 meters away, was a deliberate message. It showed who has the power now. Thackeray is trying to keep his remaining MLAs in line. The group photo at the meeting was meant to show unity. But the absences raise questions about how solid that unity really is.