Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has categorically ruled out any merger with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, with the party's Lok Sabha Parliamentary Party leader Arvind Ganpat Sawant issuing a formal written warning to six MPs who had defected to the Shinde camp. The letter, dated 14 July, also warns against any unsanctioned moves by party legislators and has been forwarded to the Lok Sabha Speaker to place on official record.

The Six MPs Named in the Notice

The formal communication was addressed to Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Jadhav, Nagesh Ashtikar, Sanjay Deshmukh, and Bhausaheb Waghchaure. All six were elected in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections on the ticket, symbol, mandate, and support of the Shiv Sena (UBT) — in contests fought directly against candidates fielded by the Shinde faction.

What Prompted the Warning

The notice was triggered by public reports suggesting that Nimbalkar, along with the other five MPs, was attempting to portray a 'merger' between the two Sena factions and had approached the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking official recognition for the same. Sawant moved swiftly to counter the narrative, stating in the letter that the original Shiv Sena (UBT) 'has neither initiated, agreed to, nor permitted any merger' with Shinde's Shiv Sena or any other political entity — a position officially affirmed by party president Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray.

The Constitutional Argument

Sawant's letter leans heavily on constitutional law, specifically Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Under this provision, individual legislators do not hold the legal authority to independently bring about or effect a merger of a political party. They may only accept or reject a merger initiated by the original parent party. Sawant wrote: 'In the absence of any merger of the original political party, no question of any merger of the legislature party arises. Further, no such merger is permissible or contemplated in law.'

Speaker's Position and Party's Representations

The Shiv Sena (UBT) has already filed representations with the Lok Sabha Speaker, requesting that no demands for a merger or separate group recognition from MPs elected on the UBT symbol be entertained. According to the letter, the Speaker recently granted a hearing to an authorised representative of the Shiv Sena (UBT). As of the date of the letter, the Speaker has not passed any order recognising any claims of a merger.

What Happens Next

This development adds a fresh legal and parliamentary dimension to the long-running split within the Sena, which has already been contested before the Election Commission of India and the Supreme Court. With the Speaker yet to rule on the merger claims, the political and constitutional battle between the two factions is far from over. Any formal recognition of a legislature party merger — or its rejection — could have significant implications for the six MPs' parliamentary standing.