‘Explosions to Continue’: Shinde Sena Warns of More Defections After Six UBT Leaders Join Eknath Shinde Camp

Mumbai: The political rivalry between the two factions of the Shiv Sena took a fresh turn on Monday after six leaders from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) camp joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, prompting the ruling faction to claim that more defections are on the horizon.

The latest entrants were welcomed into the Shinde camp in the presence of senior party leaders, with the ruling faction describing the move as evidence of growing support for Chief Minister-turned-Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's leadership.

Soon after the induction, leaders from the Shinde camp issued a pointed warning to the UBT faction, saying the "explosions" within the opposition camp would continue in the coming weeks. The remark was seen as a reference to the possibility of more leaders and office-bearers leaving the Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit.

The defections come at a politically significant time for Maharashtra, where both factions of the Shiv Sena are attempting to strengthen their organisational presence following the party split that reshaped the state's political landscape in 2022.

Since the split, the Shinde-led faction has secured major legal and electoral victories, including recognition as the official Shiv Sena by the Election Commission. However, the UBT faction continues to retain a loyal support base and has been aggressively campaigning against the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Leaders aligned with Eknath Shinde argued that the latest entrants were joining because of dissatisfaction within the UBT camp and confidence in the ruling alliance's governance agenda. They claimed that several more local leaders and workers were in touch with the Shinde faction and could announce their decision soon.

The UBT camp, meanwhile, sought to downplay the defections, maintaining that such moves would have little impact on the party's core support base. Party leaders accused the ruling side of attempting to create a perception battle and insisted that the organisation remained united under Uddhav Thackeray's leadership.

Political observers note that defections have become a recurring feature of Maharashtra politics since the Shiv Sena split. While the Shinde camp has projected the latest developments as a sign of growing momentum, the long-term electoral impact of such switches will become clearer only as local body and assembly-level political contests approach.

The fresh war of words underscores that the battle for the Shiv Sena's political legacy remains far from over. With both camps preparing for future elections, the possibility of further defections is likely to keep Maharashtra's political landscape on edge in the coming months.