Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on June 20, 2026 [2], that the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde is now the only legitimate version of the party.
The statement arrives as a critical moment of instability for the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) faction. By backing Shinde, Shah is signaling a shift in political legitimacy that could marginalize Uddhav Thackeray's influence in Maharashtra state politics.
Shah said the remarks in Delhi following a series of disruptions within the UBT ranks. Six of the nine UBT Lok Sabha MPs [1] skipped a parliamentary meeting and wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to request the formation of a separate bloc [1]. This internal rebellion suggests a deepening fracture among the lawmakers aligned with Thackeray.
"There is only one Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde," Shah said [3].
The Home Minister's comments directly target the UBT faction during a period of high tension. The move by the six MPs [1] to distance themselves from Thackeray's leadership provides a tactical opening for the Shinde-led faction to consolidate power. This internal crisis has prompted widespread speculation regarding the future of the UBT's representation in the Lok Sabha.
"Only one Shiv Sena now," Shah said [4].
The political landscape in Maharashtra has been defined by the split between these two factions. With a majority of the UBT's parliamentary members now seeking a separate identity, the legal and political battle over the party name, and symbol reaches a new inflection point.
“"There is only one Shiv Sena, led by Eknath Shinde."”
Amit Shah's declaration is more than a rhetorical jab; it is a strategic attempt to delegitimize the UBT faction at a moment of maximum vulnerability. By aligning the central government's stance with Eknath Shinde, the BJP is leveraging the rebellion of the six MPs to isolate Uddhav Thackeray and potentially force a final resolution to the Shiv Sena split in favor of the Shinde faction.
