Sena (UBT) issues show-cause notices to 6 'rebel' MPs
What's the story
The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) has issued show-cause notices to six of its Lok Sabha MPs who skipped a crucial parliamentary meeting on Thursday. The meeting was held at the party's Parliament office in New Delhi and was attended by senior leader Sanjay Raut and just three MPs: Arvind Sawant (Mumbai South), Anil Desai (Mumbai South-Central), and Rajabhau Waze (Nashik).
Disciplinary measures
'Action is this only: show-cause notice'
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Desai confirmed that disciplinary action has been initiated against the absentees. He said, "The meeting just got over, show-cause notice was sent today." When asked about the nature of action to be taken against those who did not attend, he said, "Action is this only: show-cause notice. Why didn't you come? That will be asked."
Raut
Raut's hard line on attendance
Raut said the absence of the MPs was being seen as a violation of party discipline and the party whip. "Our Lok Sabha leaders...had called for a meeting of MPs today at 11 o'clock. In that meeting, three Lok Sabha MPs were present," he said. Before the meeting, he took a hard line on attendance, saying, "Jo aayenge wo hamare, nahi aayenge wo beimaan-gaddar" (Those who attend are ours; those who do not are dishonest and traitors).
Meeting purpose
Rebel MPs have signed letter seeking a merger
Sources told PTI that the rebel MPs have signed a letter seeking a merger with the Shinde-led Sena and submitted it to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. But the procedure is not yet complete, with the speaker's office understood to require the physical appearance of some of the MPs for verification, and that is "expected to happen in the coming days," they added. The sources also said that signature verification is presently ongoing.
Bribery claims
Rebels being offered ₹50 crore each to leave party: Raut
Raut earlier alleged that the rebels were being offered ₹50 crore each to leave the party. He claimed an advance of ₹15 crore was given, adding that MPs were reluctant to board chartered planes without receiving it. "I was even told the MPs were not willing to sit in the chartered planes till they were given the advance," said Raut. The six rebel MPs are Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Sanjay Patil, and Omraje Nimbalkar.