LS Speaker Recognises Merger of 6 Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with Shinde Faction
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has recognised the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, dealing a major setback to Uddhav Thackeray. This decision impacts the strength of the Uddhav faction in the Lok Sabha and has implications for the anti-defection law.
Background
The Shiv Sena split in June 2022 when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, forming a separate faction. The Election Commission later recognised the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena. The anti-defection law under the Tenth Schedule allows merger of a political party if two-thirds of its members agree.
Key facts
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla recognised the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Eknath Shinde faction.
The six MPs are: Hemant Godse, Gajanan Kirtikar, Krupal Tumane, Bhavana Gawali, Sanjay Mandlik, and Rajan Vichare.
The merger was based on a letter submitted by the six MPs stating they had merged with the Shinde faction.
The decision reduces the strength of the Uddhav Thackeray faction in the Lok Sabha from 19 to 13 MPs.
The Shinde faction now has 19 MPs in the Lok Sabha, including the six new members.
The anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule) allows merger if at least two-thirds of the party's legislators agree.
The Speaker's decision is final and cannot be challenged in court, except on grounds of malafide or violation of natural justice.
The Uddhav faction had earlier approached the Supreme Court against the Election Commission's recognition of the Shinde faction.
Prelims pointers
- Lok Sabha Speaker: Om Birla
- Shiv Sena (UBT) – Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction
- Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction
- Tenth Schedule of the Constitution (Anti-Defection Law)
- Paragraph 4 of Tenth Schedule: Merger of political party
- Election Commission recognition of Shinde faction as real Shiv Sena
- Supreme Court case: Subhash Desai vs. Election Commission of India
Mains angles
- GS2 Polity: Anti-defection law – provisions, loopholes, and judicial interpretations.
- GS2 Polity: Role of Speaker in deciding defection and merger cases – discretionary powers and limitations.
- GS2 Polity: Political party splits and mergers – impact on parliamentary democracy and stability.
- GS2 Polity: Tenth Schedule – exceptions for merger and the two-thirds rule.