In a significant political development ahead of Parliament’s Monsoon Session, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs with the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The Speaker’s approval formally brings the six parliamentarians into the Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Lok Sabha, strengthening the ruling faction’s presence in the Lower House while dealing another major setback to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).