SC Notice to Lok Sabha Speaker on Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs' Merger
UPSC / SSC current affairs note · Polity
Why in news
The Supreme Court issued notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on a plea by the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction challenging the Speaker's decision to approve the merger of six UBT MPs with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. This decision alters Lok Sabha numbers and raises questions about anti-defection law application.
Background
The Shiv Sena split in 2022 after Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, forming a separate faction. The Election Commission recognized the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena. The merger of six UBT MPs with the Shinde faction was approved by the Speaker ahead of the Monsoon Session 2026.
Key facts
Supreme Court bench of Justices PS Narasimha and Alok Aradhe issued notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Lok Sabha Secretary, and six rebel Shiv Sena MPs.
The plea was filed by UBT MP Arvind Ganpat Sawant challenging the Speaker's decision to approve the merger.
The court refused to stay the Speaker's order at this stage and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks.
The six MPs who merged are Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East), Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli), Omprakash Rajenimbalkar (Dharashiv), and Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi).
After the merger, UBT's Lok Sabha strength fell to 3 MPs, while Shinde-led Shiv Sena increased to 13 MPs, becoming the third-largest NDA constituent after BJP and TDP.
Eknath Shinde stated the MPs joined for constituency development, not personal gains.
Prelims pointers
- Supreme Court: Articles 32, 136, 142
- Lok Sabha Speaker: Article 93
- Anti-defection Law: Tenth Schedule of the Constitution
- Shiv Sena split: 2022
- Monsoon Session of Parliament
- NDA: National Democratic Alliance
- TDP: Telugu Desam Party
Mains angles
- GS2 Polity: Anti-defection law and role of Speaker in deciding mergers
- GS2 Parliament: Powers and functions of Lok Sabha Speaker
- GS2 Judiciary: Supreme Court's jurisdiction over Speaker's decisions
- GS2 Federalism: Impact of party splits on parliamentary democracy