Maharashtra’s Shiv Sena (UBT), led by Uddhav Thackeray, is confronting a potential split as a group of party members seeks separate recognition within the state legislature. The party argues that elected representatives derive their legitimacy from their original political party and cannot form a distinct parliamentary group. This dispute centers on whether the state assembly speaker should recognize the dissenting faction as a separate entity. Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders maintain that allowing a separate group would violate established political norms. The speaker’s decision will be crucial in determining the future of the party’s representation and potentially trigger further political realignment in Maharashtra. The situation raises questions about the stability of the ruling coalition and the interpretation of anti-defection laws. This latest development adds to the ongoing internal conflicts within Shiv Sena following a previous major split in 2022.