Political Tug-of-War: Shiv Sena's Internal Strife and Defections

The Shiv Sena claimed that two newly elected Lok Sabha members from Uddhav Thackeray's camp are in touch with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. While the members remain unnamed due to anti-defection laws, four more lawmakers are expected to defect and join Shinde's faction, supporting Narendra Modi.

The internal conflict within Shiv Sena intensifies as the party claims that two newly elected Lok Sabha members from Uddhav Thackeray's camp are in touch with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. At a press conference, Shiv Sena spokesperson Naresh Mhaske, though refraining from naming the defectors due to anti-defection laws, hinted that four more lawmakers are poised to join the Shinde-led faction.

'The two Lok Sabha members were dissatisfied with Uddhav Thackeray's vote-seeking tactics,' said Mhaske. He added that while initial defectors remain unnamed, more lawmakers are expected to cross over to Shinde's side, ultimately lending their support to Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi.

Mhaske's statements come amidst contrasting claims from the Thackeray-led faction, where Sanjay Raut suggested that Shinde's MLAs and MPs were keen to rejoin Thackeray. In the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Shinde faction secured seven seats, while Thackeray's camp won nine.

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