Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday recognises the merger of six breakaway Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, under the anti-defection framework. The recognition comes after the six lawmakers left the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena group and submitted an application to the Lok Sabha Secretariat seeking formal approval of their merger. The move is described as a setback for Thackeray’s faction ahead of the Monsoon Session, which begins on July 20.
According to reports, the Secretariat has approved the merger, effectively validating the MPs’ switch and formalising their alignment with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha. The six lawmakers’ break from the UBT camp is said to have taken place nearly a month earlier. The merger is also reported to increase the Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s strength in the House to 13.
The reports also note that while separate seating has been allotted to 20 rebel TMC MPs in the House, the Speaker has not yet recognised their proposed merger with the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).
