NEW DELHI: The split in Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) became official on Monday, with its six rebel Lok Sabha MPs joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.The announcement came during a press conference in Mumbai, marking the dissidents’ first joint public appearance since speculation about their switch began.Of the six MPs, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Omraje Nimbalkar had already declared on Sunday that they were moving to the Shiv Sena led by Shinde. The others are Sanjay Haribhai Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, and Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh.The move reduces Sena (UBT)’s strength in the House to just three MPs, while giving the rebels the two-thirds support required to bypass the anti-defection law and stake claim to recognition as a separate faction.(Developing story)
