Published Jun 17, 2026 | 2:48 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 17, 2026 | 2:48 PM
Sanjay Raut.
Synopsis: The news of fresh attempts to lure Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs into the NDA fold come almost in the immediate aftermath of the TMC parliamentary party split that saw 20 MPs switch over.
How far are the BJP and its allies planning to go to ensure a two-thirds majority in Parliament?
The question began doing the rounds after Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut accused the NDA camp of attempting to lure his party MPs.
“I was told the rate is Rs 50 crore and that Rs 15 crore each will be delivered by tonight. The MPs were allegedly unwilling to board a chartered aircraft without receiving the money,” the Rajya Sabha MP claimed in New Delhi with only three of his party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs—Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje—beside him.
The other six MPs are reported to be planning to join the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena party.
Raut, however, clarified that “we have no official information about any split”.
“We have issued a whip and convened our parliamentary party meeting. We have also written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. Buying and breaking elected representatives is against democracy and the Constitution,” the Shiv Sena (UBT) leader was quoted as saying by the Press Trust of India.
VIDEO | Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut says, “The Aam Aadmi Party was broken, Shiv Sena was first split, then the Nationalist Congress Party was split, and now after Trinamool Congress, there is an attempt to break Shiv Sena again. Why is this happening in this country, and for… pic.twitter.com/BAHx4EW3bN
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 17, 2026
He was also reported as saying that “one MP took Sai Baba’s oath four times, another swore in the name of Goddess Bhavani, others swore on their children and mothers, saying they would remain with us” when they met party leader Uddhav Thackeray earlier.
“We spent our blood and sweat on these MPs. We gave them tickets and whatever financial help we could. If despite that such reports emerge, we will not spare them,” Raut said.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MP Rajabhau Waje reportedly was offered Rs 50 Cr plus Ministerial berth in centre however he declined the offer & choose to remain wid Uddhav Thackeray till end. Operation Tiger was delayed due to Mr Waje, huge effort were made to pursue him but in vain. pic.twitter.com/ZDR6yVbwrF
— Sudhir Suryawanshi (@ss_suryawanshi) June 17, 2026
The developments come after the recent split in the Trinamool Congress that saw 20 MPs merging with the till-recently unknown Nationalist Citizens Party of India and joining the NDA. The Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI) was so much of an outlier that it had only reported a closing balance of ₹75 in Financial Year 2022-23.
The NDA already has the support of 293 MPs in the Lok Sabha. With the rebel TMC MPs also declaring support, their strength has gone up to 313 MPs. Three hundred and sixty-two is the magic number needed for a two-thirds majority in the lower house. The number becomes crucial to push through constitutional amendments, as in the case of the delimitation bill that was recently brought before Parliament and fell through.
(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
