MUMBAI: Amid reports of Operation Tiger being underway to split the Shiv Sena (UBT) and 6 Sena (UBT) MPs forming as separate group, Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant gave a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla requesting him not to entertain any claim to form a separate group or a merger with another political party by the defecting MPs. Sawant said the claim that Sena (UBT) represents the ‘real Shiv Sena’ is sub judice in the Supreme Court, and this letter is being written without prejudice to that claim. Sawant was reacting to reports that certain MPs elected on the symbol of the Sena (UBT) have either approached, or are contemplating approaching, the Speaker seeking recognition as a separate group or a merger with another political party within the Lok Sabha. Sawant is the Leader of the Shiv Sena parliamentary party. There were reports that 6 Sena (UBT) MPs reached Delhi early on Wednesday. There was speculation that they could form a separate group by giving a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Wednesday. Sena functionaries said that Eknath Shinde was in Delhi early Wednesday, where he met Sena (UBT) MPs who had arrived in Delhi. Shinde then left for Jaipur after the meeting. “I may also respectfully invite attention to the Directions by the Speaker, Lok Sabha, including Direction 121 and the allied provisions governing recognition of parties and groups in the House. These Directions contemplate recognition being accorded through the authorised leadership of a political party and prescribe minimum numerical thresholds for recognition. They do not provide any mechanism for recognition of a faction operating in opposition to the leadership and authority of the political party..from which such members claim to derive their mandate. The reported request therefore finds no support in the Directions governing parliamentary procedure either,” Sawant said in his letter. Sawant said Sena (UBT) must continue to be recognised as a single political party represented in the House through its duly authorised leader and whip, and that no separate recognition, status, privilege or facility be accorded to any purported faction or breakaway group claiming to represent the party;“No decision be taken on any such request, if received, without first affording the Sena (UBT) an opportunity to place its submissions before your office. The party further reserves all rights available to it in law, including the right to invoke the provisions of the Tenth Schedule and pursue such remedies as may be necessary in relation to any conduct inconsistent with the constitutional principles referred to,” Sawant said.
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