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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.

Wings of Tomorrow

The unveiling of the CATS-Warrior prototype at the Aero India 2025 will be a statement of India’s aspirations in the aerospace domain.

Karnataka
Karnataka

Ahead of the Aero India 2025 airshow, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has taken a significant stride toward redefining the future of aerial warfare. On January 11, it was announced that the Bengaluru-based defence giant had successfully conducted the engine ground run of its CATS-Warrior, a flagship component of its ambitious Combat Air Teaming System (CATS). This milestone showcases HAL’s growing prowess in cutting-edge aerospace technologies and reflects India’s intent to join the elite club of nations capable of deploying advanced air teaming systems.


The CATS project, first unveiled as a concept at Aero India 2021, aims to integrate manned and unmanned aerial platforms in a seamless combat ecosystem. The system positions the Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) Tejas as the ‘mother ship,’ coordinating a fleet of autonomous drones designed to perform reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and precision strikes deep within enemy territory. The unveiling of the full-scale CATS-Warrior prototype at Aero India 2025 will be a bold statement of intent in the global aerospace domain.


The CATS concept reflects an innovative approach to aerial warfare, drawing parallels to the U.S. Skyborg program and the loyal wingman initiatives of countries like Australia and the UK. At its core is the CATS-Warrior, an autonomous drone designed for operations up to 700 kilometers from the mother ship. Armed with the ability to strike targets like a cruise missile or deploy precision-guided munitions, the Warrior represents a paradigm shift in combat, allowing strikes deep into enemy territory without endangering human pilots. Another key component is the CATS-Hunter, a versatile platform built for offensive missions, capable of neutralizing high-value targets such as command centers and air defence systems. The CATS-Alpha introduces swarm technology, with multiple small drones working together to overwhelm enemy defences, while the CATS-Infinity adds long-endurance capabilities, offering real-time surveillance and intelligence to enhance situational awareness on the battlefield.


The development of CATS has been a collaborative effort involving HAL’s Aircraft Research and Design Centre (ARDC), Mission Computer Systems Laboratory (SLRDC), and the Aeronautical Engine Research and Development Centre (AERDC). The indigenous mission computer and powerplant further underline India’s growing self-reliance in defence technology.


While HAL’s progress is commendable, significant challenges remain. The CATS system, though conceptually impressive, is still in its nascent stages. The successful engine ground run of the CATS-Warrior demonstrator is a promising development, but questions persist about its operational readiness, integration challenges and scalability. Critics also point to the system’s heavy reliance on untested technologies and the steep learning curve associated with autonomous warfare systems. HAL must also contend with the global competitive landscape, as programs like the U.S. Skyborg and Australia’s Loyal Wingman have years of development behind them and are backed by substantial budgets. HAL’s ability to refine and operationalize CATS within tight timelines will determine whether India can emerge as a credible player in the global drone ecosystem.


The CATS project comes at a time when geopolitical tensions in Asia are rising. With China aggressively modernizing its air force and investing heavily in drone technology, India’s ability to counterbalance these developments is critical. The CATS system, once operational, will provide India with a strategic advantage, allowing for precision strikes without risking pilot lives and enabling better deterrence in contested areas like the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Besides military applications, CATS represents a broader opportunity for India’s aerospace industry. The project’s success could spur innovation, attract foreign investments and pave the way for export opportunities, strengthening India’s position as a global defence manufacturing hub.


Despite challenges, the potential rewards are transformative. As the global spotlight turns to Bengaluru next month, HAL must seize the opportunity to showcase its technological prowess. With sustained innovation, India could very well redefine the future of aerial combat—one wingman at a time.

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