NEW DELHI: After six rebel Lok Sabha MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) formally joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, senior Shiv Sena leader Ramdas Kadam on Monday alleged that another MP was poised to desert Uddhav Thackeray but backed out after Shinde rejected his demand for a cabinet berth.Speaking to reporters in Mumbai shortly after Shinde inducted the Sena (UBT) dissidents, Kadam remarked: “A seventh MP has also signed in the paper but he demanded a cabinet post to which Eknath Shinde declined. He went back after that.”While refusing to identify the individual, Kadam offered a clue, suggesting that the individual sits next to Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray. Three of his close aides now constitute Sena (UBT)’s entire Lok Sabha contingent — Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje.The party’s lone Rajya Sabha MP, Sanjay Raut, is also among Thackeray’s closest confidants.Meanwhile, Kadam also recalled the June 2022 split in the then-undivided Shiv Sena. The rebellion, led by Shinde, also brought down the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coalition government in Maharashtra.“Back in 2022, there were 40 MLAs, including 10 ministers, and Eknath Shinde pledged that he would bring them all back. He succeeded in securing the support of 60 MLAs, and now six MPs have joined us to support development in their respective constituencies. I welcome them,” he said.In February 2023, the Election Commission recognised Shinde’s faction as the official Shiv Sena, while the Uddhav camp was subsequently renamed Shiv Sena (UBT).Shinde on Monday inducted Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh and Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar into the Shiv Sena, ending days of speculation and political manoeuvring.The Maharashtra deputy chief minister subsequently declared “Operation Tiger” a success.(with ANI inputs)
