Not going anywhere: Sena(UBT) MLAs amid reports of switch to Shinde faction

Mumbai: Amid claims by Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena that several law-makers of Shiv Sena (UBT) are in touch with them, the MPs of the Uddhav Thackeray-led party put up a united face in New Delhi and asserted that they are not going anywhere.

All the 11 MPs -- nine of Lok Sabha and two of Rajya Sabha are together and are “100 per cent” with Thackeray and the ideology of late Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.

The two Rajya Sabha MPs are Sanjay Raut and Priyanka Chaturvedi. The nine Lok Sabha MPs are Arvind Sawant (Mumbai South), Anil Desai (Mumbai South Central), Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim), Nagesh Ashtikar (Hingoli), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Rajabhau Waze (Nashik), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi) and Omprakash Rajenimbalkar (Osmanabad).

The Lok Sabha MPs of Shiv Sena (UBT) met at the official residence of Sawant and scotched rumours about some of them joining the Shiv Sena.

“Let me tell you…100 per cent are with Thackeray…we are not going anywhere,” said Arvind Sawant adding that a day ago, the Shiv Sena (UBT) office was open in the Lok Sabha complex and all MPs were present. “All 11 of us…nine from Lok Sabha and two from Rajya Sabha,” added Desai.

Earlier in the day, two Shiv Sena leaders -- industries minister Uday Samant and social justice minister Sanjay Shirsat claimed that several MPs and MLAs of Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maha Vikas Aghadi are in touch with them.

“Several are in touch with us…Shinde Saheb has the exact details…he has the knowledge of who will join when…but let me assure you it will happen soon,” said Shirsat.

“At least 10 to 12 of the MPs and MLAs and senior leaders are in touch with us and would join Shiv Sena,” he said.

Asked why Patil was not present, Sawant said that he was accompanying Raut for a press conference.

As far as Chaturvedi’s absence is concerned, he said that she had gone to Prayarag for Kumbh Mela festivities.