NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday said that the six rebel MPs, who recently defected to the Eknath Shinde-led camp, must be immediately disqualified and alleged that their switch was part of a larger political conspiracy.While addressing a rally in Maharashtra’s Parbhani, Uddhav said that Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla must uphold the rule of law regarding the defections and alleged that the BJP is systematically “clipping the wings” of its own state leaders.”If there is a rule of law in this country, these six MPs should be disqualified. I still believe in the Lok Sabha Speaker because if he does not follow the law, he cannot ask others to follow it. We respect his authority, not his wishes,” he said.Uddhav further said that the defections were part of a “bigger political game” he termed “Operation Devendra”, aimed at sidelining chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, just as the party had done to other leaders in the past.Thackeray stated that MPs loyal to the Shiv Sena (UBT) had submitted a formal representation to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking an opportunity to present their side, noting that party MP Arvind Sawant had cut short an official visit to Kargil after the Speaker advanced the date of the hearing. Earlier this week, six rebel Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) joined the ruling Shiv Sena led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. They had won against the BJP and Shiv Sena candidates in the 2024 general elections. The Shiv Sena (UBT) had won nine Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in 2024.Uddhav is on a tour of the constituencies represented by the rebel MPs.”The people voted against the Modi wave here (Parbhani). Now, the MP who won against that wave has crossed over. This is not a mere rebellion, but a bigger political game,” he alleged.He alleged that Fadnavis appeared “helpless” during a recent flight they shared because “his own bosses were clipping his wings”.Targeting Eknath Shinde, Thackeray claimed that the deputy chief minister had “no future” in the BJP-led alliance and would be “thrown away after being used”.Addressing the criticism regarding his own party’s struggle, Thackeray retorted, “I am criticised and asked to introspect on why my party is suffering. Introspection should not be done by Uddhav Thackeray alone, but by everyone, including those who criticise me. A case regarding our party’s split is pending before the Supreme Court. Why is nobody introspecting on why that case is still pending?”
