"Rs 15 Crore, Private Jet": Uddhav Sena MP's Big Charge Amid Party Split Buzz

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.

Speaking to NDTV, 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 said.

The Sena UBT MP made another sensational charge on Wendnesday morning claiming that a charteted plane was sent to ferry two party MPs from Nanded airport. Taking a shot at the rebel MPs, Raut posted: "They couldn't afford even a rickshaw ride, but Thackeray name made them worthy of private plane travel." 

नांदेड विमानतळावर एक चार्टड विमान ✈️ उतरते
ऑपरेशन 🐅 नावाखाली दोन खासदारांना उचलून निघून जाते
यांची रिक्षात फिरण्याची औकात नव्हती
खासगी विमानाने फिरण्या एवढी किंमत ठाकरे नामा मुळे वाढली
प्रत्येक गोष्टीचा हिशोब केला जाईल ।
डरपोक कोल्ह्यांच्या पळवा पळविला
🐅 का म्हणता? pic.twitter.com/ft19myQVD2

— Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 17, 2026

Meanwhile, Uddhav Sena is gearing up for action against the "rebels". The party has called a meeting of its Parliamentary party on Wednesday. All MPs have been directed to attend the MPs meet in Delhi at 11 am on June 18. Party sources said that action will be taken against the MPs who fail to join the meet.

The pary is also firming up its legal strategy amid the buzz around the split. According to sources, the Thackeray faction is exploring legal options to bring the breakaway group under the ambit of anti-defection and party discipline provisions.

According to sources, six MPs from Shiv Sena UBT are in contact with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The MPs are Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Sanjay Jadhav. Additionally, Rajabhau Waje is also rumoured to join the six MPs.

The 'rebel' UBT Sena MPs are likely to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla today and may submit their letter to form a separate group. The MPs are later likely to merge with the Shinde Sena.

In a parallel pre-emptive move, Uddhav loyalist MP Arvind Sawant has also sought time from the Lok Sabha Speaker to submit a letter on behalf of Uddhav Thackeray. Uddhav loyalists Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai are camping in Delhi amid the crisis.

According to sources, the rebel MPs of Uddhav Sena met Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde in the Capital at Shrikant Shinde's Delhi residence. Shrikant Shinde is Eknath Shinde's son and party MP. There is a possibility of another Shinde and rebel MPs meet today.

Ruling Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik indicated that dissidents would be welcomed and given priority if they decided to join the Eknath Shinde-led faction.

"If public representatives like MPs and MLAs do not trust their leadership... If they believe in the ideals of Sena founder Bal Thackeray and are willing to trust the leadership of Eknath Shinde, then the doors of the Shiv Sena are open to them," Sarnaik said. "We will give them priority if they thought of it (anytime) in the future."

Uddhav Thackeray is staring at a 2022 like split again. Then Eknath Shinde had split the party and formed a separate faction. This faction then also won the Shiv Sena name and symbol.

What intensified the buzz was the absence of five of the nine MPs from a recent meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray at his Matoshree residence on Sunday. While Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, Sanjay Dina Patil and Rajabhau Waje attended the meeting, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Nagesh Patil Ashtikar were absent. The party later claimed that the five MPs joined online.

Interestingly, the same five MPs also did not show up to wish Aditya Thackeray on his birthday just a day earlier.