In the wake of the rebellion by six MPs in the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, one of the names that has taken centre stage is Omraje Nimbalkar. Senior leader Sanjay Raut has claimed that the Dharashiv MP and Thackeray loyalist is only considering switching because he was promised a favourable verdict in the case involving his father, which has been hanging fire for 20 years.

Nimbalkar's father, Pawanraje, was a prominent Congress leader from Osmanabad district. He had emerged as a popular political figure and was increasingly seen as a challenger to the dominance of senior NCP leader Padamsinh Patil in the region.

On June 3, 2006, Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver, Samad Kazi, were travelling in a Skoda car near Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai when they were allegedly intercepted by some people in another vehicle. The attackers forced Nimbalkar's vehicle to stop and opened fire, killing both the politician and Kazi before fleeing. 

The murder shocked Maharashtra's political circles and quickly triggered allegations of a politically motivated assassination.

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Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said the BJP has no role in the rebellion in Shiv Sena (UBT). 

"The BJP has no role in this. It is not our matter. Ask Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray about this," he said.

Sanjay Raut has destroyed the Uddhav Thackeray faction of the Shiv Sena, said Milind Deora. "Sanjay Raut has not only destroyed the UBT but the entire opposition. If even today such parties are unwilling to introspect, then I can only wish them well," he said.

"When a party's Chief Whip issues a Whip, that can only be issued for voting, in Parliament, in state assemblies, when voting takes place... Ultimately, they're not willing to introspect; they don't want to improve themselves," he added.

The Maharashtra police has accorded Y-plus security to the six dissident of Shiv Sena (UBT).

Team Uddhav MP Sanjay Raut is furious.

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT)'s six MPs are reportedly missing.

The party, it says, had informed, messaged, WhatsApped all its nine MPs to be present for an urgent meeting at the party's parliament office in Delhi.

Only three - MPs Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje - turned up. And Sanjay Raut, the party's lone Rajya Sabha MP, attended the meeting.

The buzz over another rebellion in the party has picked up.

A meeting is underway at Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant's house, sources said.

Uddhav Thackeray is speaking to him and Sanjay Raut, they added.

The Sena leaders are drafting a show-cause notice for the rebel MPs who did not attend today's party meet.

The second split in Uddhav Thackeray's faction of Shiv Sena became almost inevitable today, with six MPs writing to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla about their change if allegiance. Their merger with Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena is likely to be announced on June 21, sources said. 

The Thackeray camp has called for a party meet at 11 am tomorrow and issued a notice to the rebel MPs, declaring that action will be taken against them if they fail to turn up. 

Taking action could prove difficult -- as it did in 2022 when 40 of the party's 55 MLAs sided with Eknath Shinde and split the party. 

The rebels' defection was accepted by the Speaker and the Election Commission gave its seal of approval, bestowing the party name and election symbol on the Eknath Shinde faction. 

The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is worried it's facing another rebellion.

At least six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs are reported to be in touch with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and may be considering a switch, reviving concerns of another split similar to the 2022 breakaway led by Shinde that divided the party into two factions.

Amid concerns, the Thackeray faction has called a meeting of its parliamentary board on Thursday. The six rebel MPs did not turn up for the meeting

A recent precedent has the party worried.

In West Bengal, a total of 20 rebel Trinamool MPs had on June 14 met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and submitted a letter about the merger of their group with the Tripura-based Nationalist Congress Party of India (NCPI).

Sanjay Raut

Arvind Sawant

Anil Desai

Sanjay Jadhav

Omprakash Rajenimbalkar

Bhausaheb Vakchor

Sanjay Dina Patil

Sanjay Deshmukh

Nagesh Patil Ashtikar

Rajabhau Vaze

Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde camp) MLC Chandrakant Raghuvanshi claimed that six Uddhav camp MPs have already joined the Eknath Shinde faction.

"Operation Tiger has taken place in Maharashtra. Today, six MPs expressed their confidence in Eknath Shinde and have joined Shiv Sena. It is good that they joined us. I welcome them," he said.

The Sena (UBT) has nine MPs in the Lok Sabha, and at least two-thirds of them would be required to form a separate group. Apart from Anil Desai, Rajabhau Waje and Arvind Sawant, who have pledged support to the Uddhav camp, the other six MPs are Sanjay Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Sanjay Jadhav. Even if one MP from the dissident group participates in the meeting, it cannot be recognised as a separate bloc.

MP Arvind Sawant has urged Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla not to grant recognition to any "breakaway" group claiming to represent the party.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje has hit back at rumours suggesting that the party's parliamentarians were planning to join the rival faction, and reiterated his support for party chief Uddhav Thackeray.

Addressing the media regarding the ongoing rumours, Rajabhau Parag Prakash Waje said, "I don't know anything about it. I have cleared my stand at the meeting, that I am with Uddhav Thackeray and will always be."

Uddhav Thackeray camp has called for a party meeting today at 11 am.

Party MP Sanjay Raut said that a whip has been sent to all leaders, including the rebel MPs.

"We have sent an email , WhatsApp message to them. We have also conveyed them our message...The meeting is at 11 am," he said.

According to sources, the 6 MPs have submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. A merger announcement is likely on June 21.

Shiv Sena-UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday backed party MP Sanjay Raut's allegation that monetary transactions were involved to "lure" party leaders into the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, calling it "Operation Betrayal".

In a series of posts on X, Raut had sarcastically said: “Apna Sapna Money Money! It’s shocking and revolting that Maharashtra MPs are reportedly being offered Rs 15 crore each tonight to switch sides.”

Speaking to IANS, Chaturvedi said: "If he (Raut) has made such a claim, he must have received some information, which is why he is speaking about it."

"Even the kids in Maharashtra now know that today honesty can be bought as well as sold (with money)," she added.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said legal action will be taken against those MPs who don't attend the party's parliamentary meeting. 

"In Maharashtra, they fear Uddhav Thackeray. That's why every attempt is made to weaken them. Legal action will be taken against those MPs who don't attend our parliamentary meeting tomorrow," he told NDTV.

Congress leaders accused the BJP of breaking up opposition parties to gather numbers to pass bills in Parliament.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "The ruling party in the country is trying to break, manipulate, and bring all regional parties to its side because they need to pass two to three bills in the Parliament which could not be passed so far due to lack of numbers."

"They (BJP) will do whatever they want to get the numbers. But all this is not right for democracy," he added.

Echoing a similar view, Congress leader Sachin Pilot said: "Wherever there is no majority, this (BJP-led) government wants to prove its majority."

On Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut's remarks, Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske said: "Does he even understand the law? If MPs say they are leaving your party, why abuse them? Sanjay Raut is threatening them. Arvind Sawant is also a senior; we respect that, but such threats should not be made. Everyone knows the rules here".

As he addressed the members of the Press in New Delhi amid growing buzz over defections within the Uddhav Thackerya's Shiv Sena, party MP Sanjay Raut resorted to abuses for the "rebel" leaders.

Raut hurled abuses at those suspected of leaving the party. "Ye s**le b****ike log, jo jaa rahe hai", Raut remarked referring to the "rebels". And to make sure that it was not a slip of tongue, but a deliberate act, Raut urged mediapersons to not censor his abuses. "Don't cut it, run it," he told reporters.

Continuing his attack, Raut accused the rebels of dishonesty, saying: "These people are beimaan [traitors] and beimaani (dishonesty) is in their blood - we have started feeling that".

Raut's abusive meltdown left party leaders defending him. MP Anil Desai, who was present at the same press conference, said, "Whatever is said, these are slangs, it is not meant for anyone particularly. When an emotionally sensitive person, who has spent 50 years of his life in politics in the public sphere, speaks, such things happen."

He (Raut) wasn't addressing any particular person, Desai added.

Rivals, however, pounced on Raut's comments and attacked him. Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat said Raut's language was not right. "I think abusing them and insulting them (rebel MPs) in this manner was not right. This must have been going on for a long time. The result is that today the MPs don't want to be with them."

Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam also attacked Raut and said that the language reflected collapse of Uddhav Thackeray's party. "... Sanjay Raut has now begun abusing them (rebel MPs)... This reflects the collapse of their party's leadership. They have broken away from Hindutva, leaving workers, cadre, MLAs, and MPs deeply dissatisfied and restless... using such words is unacceptable in civil society."

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut abused the rebel MPs during a press conference. 

Minutes later, he defended his remarks, saying, "We use such words in Marathi language. What is wrong in it? I very well know which language to use and when. Only a language which a person understands must be used. I have not used this language in the Parliament."

He further said, "What will you say about a person who leaves a party by accepting Rs 15 crores? Will you shower flower petals on such a person?"

As it approaches its 60th foundation day, the Shiv Sena stares at another possible split. Uddhav Thackeray camp is struggling to keep its flock together. A familiar script seems to be playing out.

Since its formation by Bal Thackeray in 1966, Shiv Sena has been known for its aggressive Hindutva and regional identity politics. But internal strife and the exit of top leaders have been a recurring reality for the party.

From 1991 to 2022, Shiv Sena has faced major jolts every decade.

Sanjay Raut, while addressing a press conference, said that if any MPs want to go then they can "resign and leave".

"If such reports emerge about our MPs, then they should refute them. This time, the people of Maharashtra will not remain silent...So far I believe the all MPs are with us," he said.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) MP claimed that Rs 50 crores were offered to some MPs to poach them. "There was an attempt to buy MPs. They were offered Rs 50 crore...But our MPs won on symbol of our party and on the face of Uddhav Thackeray," he said.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut is holding a press conference amid party split buzz.

This is deja vu time for Uddhav Thackeray.

Four years ago the son of Shiv Sena founder Bal Saheb Thackeray - the OG hardman of Maratha politics - could only watch as Eknath Shinde engineered a split that brought down the then-ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government.

Thackeray, then the chief minister, raged but could do nothing; twelve of his MPs joined Shinde in claiming the Sena's name and symbol - triggering an acrimonious legal battle that has still not been settled - and aligned with the Bharatiya Janata Party, itself Thackeray's ally-turned-rival. The result - the MVA government fell and Thackeray quit as chief minister.

This week that ghost is back to haunt what remains of his party.

At least six MPs from the Sena (UBT) - the name given to Thackeray's faction after the June 2022 divide - have gone underground. Their phones have been switched off, sources told NDTV. The six are scheduled to meet Eknath Shinde and his son, Shrikant, at the latter's Delhi residence later today, after which they are likely to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut said Uddhav Thackeray worked hard for every MP and stood by them. 

"The rebels will not be able to get the numbers they need. The BJP is trying to lure MPs with money, but they will not succeed. We are committed followers of Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology," he told NDTV.

As the buzz around a likely replay of the 2022 split in the Uddhav Sena grows stronger, party Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut has made a sensational charge over "poaching" of party MPs.

Raut on Tuesday alleged that Rs 15 crore was being paid individually to "buy MPs". "To buy Maharashtra's MPs... tonight, an advance of 15 crores each is being given, this information is shocking and disgusting !" Raut posted on X on Tuesday.

He, however, ruled out any immediate threat to the party and expressed confidence in its ability to manage the situation. Raut denied that his presence in Delhi was linked to a possible move by some MPs to form a separate group.READ MORE HERE

अपना सपना मनी..मनी..!
Apna Sapna Money Money!
It’s shocking and revolting that Maharashtra MPs are reportedly being offered ₹15 crore each tonight to switch sides.@Dev_Fadnavis

— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 16, 2026

The Uddhav camp has called for a party meeting tomorrow at 11 am and issued a notice to the rebel MPs, mentioning that if they fail to attend the meeting, then action will be taken against them.

Senior leaders of the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) have been unable to reach some of the party's Lok Sabha MPs by telephone, with their phones switched off, as speculation of internal dissent intensifies and key figures move to the national capital.

Uddhav Thackeray and other senior party leaders are making personal efforts to persuade the MPs. Some parliamentarians have been described as "not reachable". The party has scheduled a parliamentary committee meeting in Delhi today, and several MPs from the Uddhav faction are travelling to the capital. 

According to sources, MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray faction are scheduled to meet at Shrikant Shinde's Delhi residence today. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Shrikant Shinde are likely to be present in the meeting.