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By:

Quad Najmi and PTI

17 June 2026 at 5:11:32 pm

Uddhav faces another rebellion; decision today

Six Lok Sabha MPs trying to move away; picture may be clear at today’s Parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi AI generated image Mumbai: A cloak-and-dagger crisis engulfing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has landed at the door of the Lok Sabha Speaker, with the party urging him to guard against any unlawful defection and issuing a whip directing its MPs to attend a meeting in Delhi on Thursday. Amid the escalating crisis, a group of rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders is learnt to have met...

Uddhav faces another rebellion; decision today

Six Lok Sabha MPs trying to move away; picture may be clear at today’s Parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi AI generated image Mumbai: A cloak-and-dagger crisis engulfing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena has landed at the door of the Lok Sabha Speaker, with the party urging him to guard against any unlawful defection and issuing a whip directing its MPs to attend a meeting in Delhi on Thursday. Amid the escalating crisis, a group of rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders is learnt to have met Speaker Om Birla informally on Wednesday, claiming the support of six of the party's nine MPs in the Lower House, sources said. Thursday's high-stakes meeting in Delhi will legally and physically define whether Uddhav Thackeray retains his parliamentary strength or faces another devastating party division, the third since Raj Thackeray split Shiv Sena in 2006. Sources in Sena (UBT) said the rival camp still doesn't have the support of six MPs. They claim two of the six rebels have reportedly changed their mind. In a swift counter-offensive to contain the damage, the party high command issued a mandatory three-line whip, summoning an emergency parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi on Thursday to force a physical showdown where the MPs will have to mark their presence physically. The developments triggered a day of high political drama in the national capital, marked by a furious, expletive-laden press conference by Raut, a reported counter-meeting by the rebel faction with Lok Sabha Speaker Birla, and sharp condemnation from the Congress. The internal fracture was visible at Sanjay Raut's press briefing, where only three other Lok Sabha MPs, Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, and Rajabhau Waje, stood by him. The remaining six lawmakers were conspicuously absent; their exact whereabouts are unknown. The Sena (UBT) has nine MPs in the Lok Sabha, and at least two‑thirds of them would be required to form a separate group. Apart from Desai, Waje and Sawant, the other six MPs are Sanjay Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Sanjay Jadhav Not Reachable The six MPs stopped responding or became unavailable since Wednesday forenoon, after which the party stopped contacting them. They said when the party contacted Mumbai North East MP, Sanjay Dina Patil, he told party leaders that he was not with the rebel group. The party had asked them to submit a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, which he has not submitted so far. Later in the day, sources claimed that the group of six rebel lawmakers had privately met the Lok Sabha Speaker to claim a two-thirds majority in the Lower House, the precise threshold required to escape disqualification under the anti-defection law. Simultaneously, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who split the undivided Shiv Sena in 2022, was reportedly camping in Delhi to oversee the operational layout of the defection of MPs. He returned to his home town Thane in Wednesday night. He is reportedly studying all the legal aspects before taking a final call before the party’s foundation day on Friday. Speaker’s Role Following reports of the rebels' move, a loyalist delegation consisting of Raut, Sawant, and Desai rushed to meet Speaker Birla to file a formal representation urging him to reject any unlawful group alignment. Desai argued that the legal provisions are strictly on the side of the original organisational structure. "Under the law, a splinter group cannot simply merge with another party on its own, even if they have two-thirds support. Only the original administrative party holds that right," Desai told reporters, adding that the Speaker assured them he would thoroughly examine every legal aspect before rendering a decision. The widening panic inside the party also triggered a public, familial disconnect involving missing Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar. While the MP remained unreachable, his son, Krushna Patil Ashtikar, the MVA's official candidate for Thursday's Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, released a video statement strongly defending Uddhav Thackeray. "I am a Shiv Sainik of Uddhav Thackeray. There is no room for doubt when it comes to me," the younger Ashtikar stated.

Civil surgeon in same post for a decade

Thane’s health department faces allegations of blatant violation of norms


Dr. Kailas Pawar
Dr. Kailas Pawar

Thane: Serious allegations of corruption and administrative irregularities have surfaced in the District Government Hospital with Civil Surgeon Dr. Kailas Pawar at the center of a controversy. Dr. Pawar has remained in the same post from last nine years raising major concerns over transparency and governance. A section of the employees has demanded to forma a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe Dr. Pawar’s decisions.

 

According to the Maharashtra Government Servants Regulation of Transfers Act, 2005, the tenure of Group-A officers is limited to three years. However, Dr. Pawar’s prolonged tenure appears to be in violation of these norms, raising questions about whether rules are being properly enforced. Critics argue that such extended postings create an environment conducive to corruption and administrative complacency.

 

The allegations relate to the period between 2017 and 2023, during which procurement of medical equipment across multiple government hospitals in Thane district reportedly involved serious irregularities. Audit reports have pointed out instances where payments were made to contractors before the delivery of equipment, incomplete records of medicine stock, and lack of transparency in the tender process.

 

The scope of these alleged irregularities extends beyond a single hospital to several government and rural hospitals in Bhiwandi, Shahapur, Badlapur, Ambernath, Ulhasnagar, Murbad, Tokawade, Khardi, and Ambadi. This has raised serious concerns about the overall functioning of the district’s healthcare administration.

 

Dr. Pawar was awarded the “Vandaniya Balasaheb Thackeray Health Ratna Award” on February 23 Health Minister Prakash Abitkar. The contrast between serious allegations and official recognition has triggered public anger and raised questions about accountability.

 

While speaking to ‘The Perfect Voice’, social activist Bapu Bansode alleged that many medical devices purchased with public funds are lying unused and gathering dust in government hospitals. He emphasised that merely purchasing equipment is not enough; ensuring its effective use is equally important. He also alleged that long-term postings of officials contribute to corruption and mismanagement.

 

Responding to the allegations, Dr. Kailash Pawar stated that he would immediately step down if the government transfers him. He added that construction work of the civil hospital is currently underway and claimed he has no knowledge of the allegations. He denied the allegations of any irregularities in the procurements saying that those who are levelling the allegations had malafied intentions. He warned that he would file defamation cases against those spreading false information.

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