GS2The Hindu · Current Affairs

Speaker okays merger of 6 Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs into the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Samachar Pathshala Desk

Published 19 Jul 2026 · 1 min

Google sources

Empty official chamber seats and a parliamentary gavel in a legislative setting — A parliamentary merger decision raises questions about party recognition and anti-defection rules in the Lok Sabha.

Key takeaways

The Lok Sabha Speaker approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs into the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde.
The Shiv Sena continues to exist as rival political factions led by Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla approved the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) Members of Parliament into the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The decision is important because it touches the anti-defection framework, the Speaker’s role in the Lok Sabha, and the continuing political split within the Shiv Sena.

The UPSC angle

GS2

Party merger, legislative recognition, and the anti-defection framework

UPSC can frame the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla approval of the merger of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs into the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena around the Speaker’s role under the Tenth Schedule, the distinction between merger and defection, and how legislative numbers interact with party recognition and intra-party disputes.

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Birla approves six Sena (UBT) MPs’ merger with Shiv Sena

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Speaker clears merger of six Sena UBT MPs with Shinde Sena, separate seating for TMC rebels