Nirupam Predicts End Of Shiv Sena (UBT) By 2029
“The party called Ubatha is slowly dying. Their MLA and MP no longer have faith in Ubatha’s leadership. By 2029, the party will be finished. People are leaving Ubatha every day.
Mumbai: Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam made a startling claim on Tuesday that the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction could be finished by 2029. His remarks came amidst speculation that several Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs might defect to the Eknath Shinde-led faction.
“The party called Ubatha is slowly dying. Their MLA and MP no longer have faith in Ubatha’s leadership. By 2029, the party will be finished. People are leaving Ubatha every day. As far as their MPs are concerned, we have nothing to do with it. This is an internal matter of their party. This party will slowly die, and people will leave,” Nirupam said.
His remarks came after amidst speculations of possible unrest within the Shiv Sena (UBT) ranks and reports that some MPs could break away from the party under ‘Operation Tiger.’
Speaking about Operation Tiger, Nirupam argued that both leaders and workers are steadily losing faith in the UBT leadership. “It is also a fact that the party operating under the leadership of Uddhav Thackeray, the UBT Sena (Shiv Sena UBT), is experiencing severe disintegration and a major rift. This is because their entire party cadre is completely disillusioned with the leadership,” he added.
Another Shinde Sena leader and MLC Krupal Tumane also claimed that seven of the nine MPs belonging to the Shiv Sena (UBT) are prepared to join the Eknath Shinde camp. He said that seven UBT MPs and around 16 MLAs were in contact with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and were keen on working under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
According to him, discussions were at an advanced stage, and a formal switchover could take place in the near future.
Earlier in the day, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut rejected reports that five MPs from his party were likely to form a separate faction. He described the claims as ‘false’ and reaffirmed their support for party chief Uddhav Thackeray.
“This is a lie. We have no such information. Four days ago, all these MPs took part in a meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray and expressed faith in his leadership. Of them, some of the leaders swore by their loved ones pledging support to Uddhav,” Raut said.
Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday had called a meeting of party MPs. Of the nine Lok Sabha members, only four – Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, Rajabhau Waze and Sanjay Patil – attended the meeting in person, while Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar and Sanjay Deshmukh attended online.
