Shinde faction set to form a separate group

After the Shiv Sena’s division in Maharashtra assembly, its parliamentary party was also staring at a split Several MPs set to petition Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to recognise them as a separate group. A Shiv Sena Lok Sabha member claimed that at least 12 of the 18 Shiv Sena members will meet Birla to submit a formal letter to recognise it as a separate group.

Kalaben Delkar, the Lok Sabha member from Dadra & Nagar Haveli, has pledged her allegiance to the Shiv Sena. But had not contested the election on the party symbol.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde will be in Delhi on Tuesday. The breakaway faction of Lok Sabha members are expected to meet him. “We will take action against MPs who attend the meeting with Shinde,” Sanjay Raut, Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha member, told reporters in Delhi.

Shinde, had led a rebellion within the Shiv Sena ranks. He was sworn-in as chief minister on June 30 with the support of the BJP. He has the support of 40 of Shiv Sena’s 55 MLAs in the Maharashtra Assembly. Speaker Rahul Narwekar has recognised the faction as the Legislature Party.

“We attended an online meeting held by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde today. We have decided to form a separate group under the leadership of Rahul Shewale (an MP from Mumbai South Central). He will be our group leader,” a Shiv Sena MP said.