Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has approved the merger of six rebel MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction into the Shiv Sena (Shinde) faction. This is a big blow for Uddhav Thackeray. These MPs had already joined the Shinde faction; After the Speaker’s approval, the number of Shinde faction in the Lok Sabha has increased to 13. Shinde faction had been demanding this merger for a long time. The NDA alliance has also been strengthened with the inclusion of these six rebel MPs. The Uddhav faction had strongly opposed this merger.
**Why are MPs joining Shiv Sena? Eknath Shinde told**
Following the Lok Sabha Speaker’s decision, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde responded to the opposition’s allegations. He said that the leaders joining his party have done so out of trust and not under any pressure or greed. He said that the MPs and leaders who have joined Shiv Sena in the last three-four years have full faith in the party and its leadership. His team always fulfills its promises and works in public interest.
Eknath Shinde said that his politics is not about breaking or dividing parties. Describing himself as a leader who brings people together, he said his priority is to provide justice to the people and help MPs fulfill their responsibilities towards their constituencies. He assured that all the MPs joining the party will get full support to rapidly advance the development works in their respective areas.
Shinde also rejected allegations that the six MPs had joined his faction for personal gain or money. He said that some people’s thinking is limited only to transactions, so they look at money behind every decision. He stressed that these MPs had taken decisions for the development of their constituencies and not for personal gain. Shinde said that necessary funds for development projects will be made available to these MPs. Apart from this, arrangements were also made for his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah so that the pending work related to his parliamentary constituencies could be completed. He also advised the opposition to introspect.
Separate meeting for those who separated from TMC and formed a new party
Apart from Shiv Sena, the Speaker has also taken an important decision regarding TMC rebels. Twenty MPs who separated from Trinamool Congress and joined NCPI have got a big relief; The Lok Sabha Speaker has given him permission to sit separately in the House. This is being considered as another big political setback for Mamata Banerjee.
Earlier, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju had also invited Sudip Bandopadhyay and Kakoli Ghosh to attend the all-party meeting as NCPI leaders.
