Uddhav Thackeray, chief of Shiv Sena (UBT), denied reports of a merger between his party and the Congress party earlier this month [1].

The denial comes amid an internal crisis within the party that threatens its stability and ideological standing in Maharashtra. The dispute has highlighted deep divisions between the party leadership and dissenting members who fear a shift in the party's core identity.

The tension escalated after six rebel MPs alleged that a plan to merge Shiv Sena (UBT) with the Congress party was the primary driver behind a revolt within the organization [1]. These allegations have fueled widespread speculation about the future of the party's political alignment in Mumbai and the broader state [2].

Thackeray addressed the rumors by stating that the party remains committed to Hindutva. "There is no merger with Congress; Shiv Sena (UBT) remains committed to Hindutva," Thackeray said [1].

Sanjay Raut, a senior leader and spokesperson for Shiv Sena (UBT), took a different approach by extending an olive branch to those who left the party. Raut said that leaders from the rival Eknath Shinde faction should consider returning if they regret their decision to defect [2].

"If anyone regrets the mistake, they should come back to the party led by Uddhav," Raut said [2].

The situation remains volatile as different factions offer conflicting accounts of the party's trajectory. While some sources suggest a merger plan is the root of the current revolt [3], other leaders have downplayed the possibility of such a move [1].

Eknath Shinde, leader of the rival Shiv Sena faction, also denied merger activities. "We are carrying forward the ideology of Shiv Sena; there is no merger," Shinde said [4].

“"There is no merger with Congress; Shiv Sena (UBT) remains committed to Hindutva."”

The friction within Shiv Sena (UBT) reflects a broader struggle for the ideological soul of the party. By explicitly mentioning Hindutva, Thackeray is attempting to neutralize claims that a merger with the Congress party would dilute the party's right-wing credentials. The invitation by Raut for defectors to return suggests that the party is attempting to rebuild its numbers to strengthen its bargaining power in Maharashtra's competitive political landscape.