Lok Sabha Speaker Approves Merger of UBT Sena MPs with Shiv Sena

Lok Sabha Speaker approves merger of six UBT Sena MPs with Shiv Sena, separate seating for TMC rebels

New Delhi, July 18

This takes the Shiv Sena's strength to 13, reducing UBT Sena to three members in the Lok Sabha.

Additionally, the Speaker also approved separate seating in the Lok Sabha for 20 MPs who broke away from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and announced a merger with the regional party, the Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).

However, the merger of rebel TMC MPs has not yet been approved by the Speaker.

Last month, rebel TMC MP Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar led a total of 20 MPs and announced a merger with a regional NCPI. Shiv Sena (UBT) has also witnessed a split, with six Lok Sabha MPs joining the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Earlier, seven Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha MPs had joined the BJP. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by the BJP, currently holds 298 seats in the Lok Sabha, including the Speaker. In case the Speaker approves the merger between the TMC rebels and the NCPI, the NDA's strength will stand at 318.

The NDA is likely to move closer to the two-thirds majority mark of 360 in the House of 540 members, with three seats currently vacant.

The mergers have ignited speculation around the Centre bringing back the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, which proposes an increase in the number of seats in the Lok Sabha up to 850 and implementing the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023, to provide 33 per cent reservation to women in legislatures.

According to sources, the Centre is likely to bring the Bill back, with attempts being made to remove apprehensions and assure a uniform 50 per cent increase in Lok Sabha seats in states.

With the NDA an inch closer to a majority and the DMK not part of the INDIA bloc, the Centre eyes passing the Bill, which was defeated after gaining 298 votes in April.

— ANI