Only three of Shiv Sena (UBT)’s nine Lok Sabha MPs attended the party’s parliamentary meeting in Delhi on Thursday, prompting senior leader Sanjay Raut to warn that disciplinary and legal action would
be initiated against those who stayed away.
The meeting, called by Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha leader Arvind Sawant and Chief Whip Anil Desai, was held amid intense speculation over possible defections from the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp.
According to Raut, only Arvind Sawant, Rajabhau Waje and Anil Desai attended the gathering.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, the Rajya Sabha MP said the absence of the remaining MPs was being viewed as a violation of party discipline and the party whip.
“Our Lok Sabha leaders, Arvind Sawant and our Shiv Sena Lok Sabha MP Anil Desai, they had called for a meeting of MPs today at 11 o’clock. In that meeting, three Lok Sabha MPs were present,” Raut said.
He added that the party was not prepared to overlook the absence of the six MPs.
“The members who did not attend are not being excused. We do not accept this as party discipline; this is being seen as a violation of party norms. Action against them has already begun,” Raut said.
Raut said the first step would be the issuance of show-cause notices, after which the party would examine the responses and consider further action.
“They will be issued show-cause notices, their replies will be sought, and we will proceed in the direction of seeking their disqualification,” he said.
Reiterating the party’s stand, Raut said the MPs who skipped the meeting had failed to comply with a direction issued by the party leadership.
“Three Lok Sabha MPs attended the meeting, Arvind Sawant, Rajabhau Waje and Anil Desai. I am from the Rajya Sabha. The MPs who did not attend it are found to be in violation of the party whip. So, action has been initiated. They will be served a show-cause notice, and a response will be sought from them. We will look towards the cancellation of their membership,” he said.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also launched a sharp attack on the absentee MPs, accusing them of betraying the party that had given them an electoral platform.
“We call them traitors, dishonest, and deceptive people. You are still members of the party. You contested elections in our party’s name and symbol. If you have violated the party whip, legal action will also have to be taken against you,” Raut said.
Questioning reports that the MPs had met the Lok Sabha Speaker, Raut said the party leadership had publicly met the Speaker, and photographs of the meeting were available.
“When we met the Speaker yesterday, a photo came out in the public domain. If the other six MPs met the Speaker, show us a photo of the same. This is not called strategy, this is betrayal. They are still the members of our party and won on our symbol,” he said.
Raut further dismissed suggestions that the developments were part of a political strategy, describing them instead as “betrayal, dishonesty, conspiracy and fraud.”
The low attendance at the parliamentary party meeting and the strong warning from the Sena (UBT) leadership have deepened the uncertainty surrounding the party’s Lok Sabha contingent, with the leadership making it clear that those who defy party directives could face disciplinary, legal and disqualification proceedings.
