Mumbai: Setting the ball rolling for a legal battle, the Shiv Sena (UBT) has shot off missives to each of the six MPs who have announced allegiance to the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde pointing that ‘no merger’ has been permitted as claimed. Shiv Sena (UBT) Parliamentary Party (Lok Sabha) Leader and Mumbai South MP Arvind Sawant, has written the letters to six MPs - copies of which were also sent to Speaker Om Birla – which were released today, days a

Mumbai: Besieged for past six years with allegations that he had abandoned ‘Hindutva’, Shiv Sena (UBT) President and ex-CM Uddhav Thackeray changed tack today to announce a state-wide agitation called ‘Ram Raksha Andolan’ (Protect Ram Crusade) from Sunday. The move is intended to corner the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which is currently under fire from all over after alleged financial irregularities linked to devotees’ donations at the Lord Ram Temple in Ayodhya – inaugurate

Mumbai: In the unforgiving theater of the state politics, symbolism is often the precursor to a tectonic shift. By masterminding the unexpected move to field Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sachin Ahir for the coveted post of Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has done much more than simply poach a high-profile rival. He has sent an unequivocal message across the political spectrum: ‘Operation Tiger’ is far from over. This aggressi

Mass defections are often blamed on ambition. But history suggests that parties begin to fracture when they lose ideological purpose. The spate of mass defections and vertical splits witnessed over the past few years has become the subject of heated debates in television studios and extensive media coverage. The list is long - the undivided Shiv Sena, the NCP, the AAP, the TMC, the Shiv Sena (UBT), with speculation also rife about several others. The BJP’s aggressive strategy

Journalists staged a protest outside Balasaheb Bhavan against Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Dina Patil, condemning his alleged remarks against members of the media. Pic: Bhushan Koyande Mumbai: Mumbai North-East MP Sanjay Dina-Patil – who recently defected to the ruling ally Shiv Sena apparently went haywire on Thursday, hurling bomb threats at political opponents, spitting expletives at protestors, warning jounos of assault and warning anybody “to do whatever you can”, sparking a mass

Mumbai: As the rebel six MPs were proudly showcased before the media in a grand event by Shiv Sena President and Deputy Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde, ex-CM and Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo Uddhav Thackeray summoned his entire flock of lawmakers for a headcount – and discovered that four were allegedly ‘missing’, on Monday. The development came after a similar meeting last week of its nine Lok Sabha MPs saw only three in attendance and the six prospective turncoats proclaimed lo

Mumbai: Amid the rebellion by 6 Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs, at least two of them have shot into the spotlight, but for entirely different and non-political reasons – Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli) and Sanjay Dina-Patil (Mumbai North-East). Despite their fathers currently in the process of shifting loyalties to the Shiv Sena headed by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, the son and daughter, respectively, of both these MPs have chosen to stay anchored firmly with SS (UBT) President and ex-CM U

Mumbai: In a dramatic development, former Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray on Friday offered to quit his post if the party cadres desired it and hand over the reins to any ordinary Shiv Sainik. In an emotionally charged yet aggressive address at the party’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations against the backdrop of the defection of 6 MPs, Thackeray said though he was “prepared to relinquish” the party chief’s post, provided the party was not allowed to

While defections may weaken the Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra’s politics is shaped as much by emotion and identity as by arithmetic. As the Shiv Sena marks the 60th anniversary of its foundation, the celebrations are accompanied by introspection as much as festivity. Both factions - the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray - continue to claim ownership of the party’s legacy, ideology and emotional bond with Mahara

AI generated image Mumbai: The Shiv Sena (UBT)’s worst fears proved true on Thursday when six suspected ‘turncoat’ MPs failed to attend its crucial parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi – signaling another ‘split’ in four years – and posing a serious challenge to ex-Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership and credibility. The crucial parliamentary party meeting saw only three (out of total 9) Lok Sabha MPs – Arvind Sawant (Mumbai South), Anil Desai (Mumbai South-Cen

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena (UBT) is currently experiencing a second political earthquake in three years with an erosion of its base and a crisis of credibility, with a question mark over its future. A brief profile of the MPs in the current turmoil and those who remain loyal to ex-CM and party Chief Uddhav Thackeray. SS (UBT)’s nine Lok Sabha MPs elected in 2024: Anil Desai (Mumbai South Central), Arvind Sawant (Mumbai South), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi), Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (H

Mumbai: Shiv Sena Minister Sanjay Shirsat has inadvertently fueled opposition propaganda. While reacting to an editorial in Shiv Sena (UBT) mouthpiece Saamana on Saturday he suggested that his party and the BJP could contest the 2029 elections separately. The statement strengthens the UBT’s ongoing narrative that the BJP plans to sideline its current alliance partners. Shirsat essentially validated these opposition speculations instead of firmly dismissing them. The Saamana e

BJP Candidates coming out after filing their nomination for the upcoming Legislative Council Polls from Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai on Thursday. Pic: Bhushan Koyande Mumbai: Typically, when a ruling coalition enjoys a formidable and comfortable majority, elections to the Rajya Sabha and the State Legislative Council are quiet, predictable affairs. They are often viewed as mere formalities, rarely capturing the public imagination or dominating front-page headlines. Historically, t

Mumbai: The upcoming Legislative Council elections for 10 crucial seats are rapidly transforming into a volatile political battleground. What initially appeared to pass off as a routine democratic process like Rajya Sabha elections earlier this year is now increasingly shaping up as a fierce, silent competition for dominance between the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Simultaneously, this power struggle is casting a long shadow over the opposition

Mumbai: Shiv Sena (UBT) President Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday launched a blistering, wide-ranging attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led governments at the Centre and in the state, targeting what he termed as a ‘toxic political climate’, rising crimes against women, and a ‘hire-and-fire’ culture hurting workers. Addressing the 58th annual general meeting of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, Thackeray delivered a strong political cocktail laced with jibes, concerns over labour rig