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The strength of a party in the Lok Sabha is a key factor in determining whether it is allotted office space in the Parliament complex.
Shiv Sena (UBT) had won nine Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections. (File)
The Shiv Sena (UBT) could lose its office in the Parliament complex following the rebellion by six of its Lok Sabha MPs, who have joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. However, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla is yet to take a decision on the merger.
Amid the developments, Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai met Speaker Om Birla in Parliament on Wednesday and urged him to ensure that no decision is taken without hearing their side.
Speaking after the meeting, Anil Desai said the Speaker assured them that any decision on the merger would be taken strictly in accordance with constitutional provisions.
“He said that whatever is written in the Constitution and whatever provisions exist, the decision process will be in that manner only. Schedule 10 of the Constitution clearly states that any group, even if its strength is two-thirds of the legislature party, cannot join another party on its own. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, all nine MPs had won on the Shiv Sena Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray party symbol. As the custodian of Parliament, the Speaker will ensure that justice is done,” Desai said.
Arvind Sawant said he and Desai had earlier submitted a representation to the Speaker after the six MPs left the party. “We requested him that if any MP or group approaches him, he should protect the Constitution. We again wrote to him asking that if anything happens regarding this matter, our side should be heard before any decision is taken. He gave us time today and said he had not received any letter from the rebel MPs,” Sawant said.
Shiv Sena UBT MPs Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh and Nagesh Bapurao Patil joined the Shinde faction on Monday.
What Are The Rules?
The strength of a party in the Lok Sabha is a key factor in determining whether it is allotted office space in the Parliament complex.
Shiv Sena (UBT) had won nine Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 general elections. With six MPs joining the Shinde camp, the party’s effective strength would come down to three if the merger is recognised.
Typically, parties with five or more MPs are allotted office space inside Parliament. This raises the possibility that Shiv Sena (UBT) could lose its office if the Speaker approves the merger and its strength falls below the threshold.
About the Author
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter –twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
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