Sena UBT has been trying to get these MPs to attend Thursday’s parliamentary board meeting. Even if one of them attends, it would mean that the rival faction would be left with just 5 MPs less than the two-thirds majority required to form a separate grouping.
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For Sena UBT, the most promising one they are banking on to attend Thursday’s meeting is Sanjay Dina Patil, a Mumbai MP, who is among the six rebel MPs believed to have joined the Shinde camp. Sena UBT believes that Patil will come for Thursday’s parliamentary board meeting. Patil was also one of the four MPs who attended the Sunday meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray although he came after it was almost over.
A Shiv Sena leader, however, claimed none of the six MPs, who have decided to break away from Sena UBT, will go back. “Most likely on Thursday, we will take the six MPs to the Speaker. None of them are having a second thought,” the leader said.
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He contested UBT’s move to issue a whip and said MPs who do not attend the meeting will not be under any danger of disqualification. UBT MP Arvind Sawant has issued a whip for MPs to be present for the parliamentary board meeting. “There is no reason for MPs to attend the meeting, a whip is applicable only during voting and in Parliament,” the Shiv Sena leader said.
