Uddhav Thackeray Offers Resignation Amid Six MP Defections

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray offered to resign from his position on Friday, June 19, 2026, amid a deepening rebellion within his party. The announcement came during a speech to party workers in Mumbai on the occasion of Shiv Sena's 60th foundation day, as six of the faction's nine Lok Sabha members were poised to defect.

Thackeray stated he would step down if party workers lost faith in his leadership, expressing willingness to hand over the reins to any party member deemed fit. He emphasized, however, that he would not abandon the fight for the party's ideology and would not allow Shiv Sena to be handed over to "thieves." His remarks directly addressed the political crisis triggered by the absence of six MPs from a crucial parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.

The missing MPs are Sanjay Dina Patil, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Deshmukh, and Sanjay Jadhav. Reports indicate they have submitted a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition as a separate group with the intention of merging with the rival Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The Thackeray-led faction...