Shiv Sena (UBT) Calls MPs' Meet Today — 'Who Believes in Balasaheb Will Attend'

June 22, 2026 — Vikram Patel 3 min read

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray faction, UBT) has called a meeting of its MPs on Monday, with party leaders stating that only those who demonstrate loyalty to the late Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology should attend. The gathering comes amid continued political tension following the split in the original Shiv Sena party, which now sees two factions—the UBT camp led by Uddhav Thackeray and the Shinde group—claiming the legacy of the Thackeray family.

Meeting Called on Monday

The Shiv Sena (UBT) issued the summons to its MPs on Monday morning, according to party sources. The invitation reportedly included a pointed message: "Who believes in Balasaheb will attend." The phrase directly references Balasaheb Thackeray, the founder of Shiv Sena, whose political legacy both factions claim to uphold.

Party workers gathered outside the Shiv Sena (UBT) office in Mumbai following the announcement, with many expressing support for Uddhav Thackeray's leadership. The meeting is expected to draw attendance from the UBT camp's current parliamentary representatives.

Shinde Camp Responds

The competing Shiv Sena faction led by Eknath Shinde responded swiftly to the news. Representatives of the Shinde camp announced on Monday that six MPs had joined their group, adding to the Shinde faction's count in Parliament. The Shinde camp has repeatedly asserted that it represents the true ideological continuation of Balasaheb Thackeray's political vision.

Chandrakant Raghuvanshi, a leader associated with the Shinde faction, welcomed the new MPs in a public statement. "The party of Balasaheb Thackeray is with us," he said, without providing further specifics about which MPs had switched allegiance.

Background of the Shiv Sena Split

The divide within Shiv Sena emerged in 2022 when Eknath Shinde rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership, which had aligned the party with the Maha Vikas Aghadi coalition. Shinde's faction secured the party symbol after a intervention by the Election Commission of India, effectively splitting the party's identity and electoral base.

Since then, both groups have claimed the right to use the Shiv Sena name and the bow-and-arrow electoral symbol. Courts have been examining the dispute, while both factions have been working to consolidate their respective support bases amongMLAs, MPs, and party workers.

Balasaheb Thackeray's Legacy at Stake

Balasaheb Thackeray, who died in 2012, founded Shiv Sena in 1966. His son, Uddhav Thackeray, served as Chief Minister of Maharashtra from 2019 to 2022 through an alliance with the NCP and Congress. The current dispute centres on whether Uddhav Thackeray's coalition politics departed from his father's Hindutva-driven approach.

Shinde and his supporters argue that Uddhav Thackeray betrayed Balasaheb's core ideology by aligning with parties traditionally opposed to Shiv Sena's political line. The UBT camp maintains that its commitment to Hindutva remains intact and that the Shinde faction sold out to the BJP for ministerial positions.

Impact on Parliamentary Representation

Both factions now hold seats in the Parliament of India. The Shinde-led group controls the larger portion of the party's legislative footprint in Maharashtra, having attracted dozens of MLAs during the 2022 split. The UBT camp, while reduced in numbers, retains several MPs and continues to function as a separate political entity.

The competition for legitimacy has played out in courts, in state assemblies, and now in direct public messaging like Monday's summons. Political observers note that the battle over Balasaheb Thackeray's legacy serves as a proxy war for control of the party's identity and future direction.

What Happens Next

The Monday meeting of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs is expected to produce a formal statement addressing the Shinde camp's claims and outlining the faction's strategy going forward. Party sources indicated that Uddhav Thackeray himself may address the gathering, reinforcing his position as the rightful heir to his father's political empire.

Watch for the Shinde camp's next move. With six MPs reportedly joining their side, the faction will likely seek to publicise further defections or legislative gains to strengthen its claim as the genuine Shiv Sena. The ongoing legal disputes over the party symbol and name could see new developments within weeks, as courts are yet to deliver a final ruling on the most contentious aspects of the split.