Sena (UBT) MPs Nagesh Ashtikar and Omprakash Nimbalkar Join Shinde Faction
Ashtikar and Nimbalkar cite Opposition constraints and remarks against rebels
Mumbai: Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar on Sunday confirmed their defection from Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Shiv Sena, citing remarks against them and constraints of being in the Opposition.
In a video statement, Ashtikar said he and some other MPs had “not gone anywhere” until June 18 but changed their decision after certain remarks were made against them, an apparent reference to Sanjay Raut.
Responding to the developments, Raut said some dissident MPs were in touch with the party and discussions were underway with at least two of them. He said talks could be held if they felt they had made a mistake.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray asserted that the Sena led by him was the “only Shiv Sena”, responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who had stated that the party headed by Eknath Shinde was the sole Shiv Sena.
“Shiv Sena, headed by me, is the only Shiv Sena,” Thackeray said.
On Saturday, Shah had said in Kolhapur that earlier people had to refer to the Shinde-led faction separately, but “now no faction remains, and there is only one Shiv Sena, which is headed by Eknath Shinde”.
“I, and some other MPs (of Sena-UBT), had not made any decision until June 18. We had not gone anywhere. However, certain remarks were made against us since Thursday, which made us believe that there is no point in staying here (Sena-UBT),” the Hingole MP Ashtikar said.
Ashtikar said he had “not compromised” on his ideology and described the move as a shift “from one Shiv Sena to another”.
“I have not gone anywhere. I just moved from the Shiv Sena to Shiv Sena. People can express their anger, but simultaneously, they should mind their language. I will not push anyone to come with me. But I will stand with them,” he said.
“We need funds, and I have taken this step. I will keep working for the people, and I will complete the responsibility assigned to me by the people,” he added.
Nimbalkar cited the party’s performance in local body elections and his inability to address constituency issues while in the Opposition.
“They (Shinde and Fadnavis) made me speak with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. I requested him to do justice for us. Later, Shinde also said that the CBI will file an appeal. We don't want a favour, but I have demanded that the verdict should be based on merit,” he said.
The development follows the absence of several MPs, including Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Mr Ashtikar and Mr Nimbalkar, from a Sena (UBT) parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on June 17.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has nine Lok Sabha members, and at least six MPs would need to defect together to avoid disqualification under anti-defection provisions.
