Omprakash Nimbalkar to decide political stand after consulting voters; Shiv Sena (UBT) still hopes he stays

The Shiv Sena UBT is still hopeful that Osmanabad Dharashiv MP Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar will not leave the party despite growing speculation over a possible split among its Lok Sabha members party sources told PTIThe development comes amid uncertainty within the Uddhav Thackerayled party after six MPs skipped a parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi earlier this week fuelling speculation that they could join the rival Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath ShindeNimbalkar Yet to Clarify Political FutureSpeaking to reporters on Saturday Nimbalkar said he would decide his political future after consulting the people of his constituencyOmprakash Raje Nimbalkar is on his way back from the rebel camp a Shiv Sena UBT leader told PTI on condition of anonymity even as the MP is yet to publicly clarify his standNimbalkar also reiterated his respect for the party leadershipI have never spoken against Uddhav Thackeray or Aaditya Thackeray and I will not do so in future either he saidReacting to the verdict in his fathers murder case he added Good people who live and behave correctly face disappointment This is KalyugSix MPs Yet to Reply to Party NoticesThe crisis began after MPs Sanjay Dina Patil Sanjay Deshmukh Sanjay Jadhav Bhausaheb Wakchaure Nagesh PatilAshtikar and Nimbalkar failed to attend the Shiv Sena UBT parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on June 17The party subsequently issued showcause notices to the six MPs on June 18 and sought their replies within 24 hoursAccording to Shiv Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant none of the dissident lawmakers has responded so farWe have not received any reply from them rebel MPs Sawant told PTIThe absence of any response has intensified speculation about the future of the group and its relationship with the party leadershipNumbers Crucial Under AntiDefection LawThe Shiv Sena UBT currently has nine Lok Sabha MPs Under the antidefection law a faction requires the support of at least twothirds of the parliamentary party to avoid disqualificationWith six MPs needed to meet that threshold political observers are closely watching developments as the dissident group holds the numbers required for a potential splitSources told PTI the partys next possible step could be approaching the Lok Sabha Speaker and seeking the disqualification of the MPs for allegedly defying the party whipMurder Case Verdict Adds Political UndertonesThe political developments have unfolded alongside the verdict in the 2006 murder case of Nimbalkars father former Congress leader Pawanraje NimbalkarOn Saturday a special court acquitted former Nationalist Congress Party minister Padamsinh Patil and seven others in the caseShiv Sena UBT MP Anil Desai said those waiting for justice for two decades would now understand who is on their side and who is bogusThe verdict has also become part of the wider political debate surrounding the alleged attempts to encourage defections from the partyAaditya Thackeray Extends Olive BranchShiv Sena UBT MLA Aaditya Thackeray struck a conciliatory tone saying MPs who wish to return to the party would be welcomed backHe said those who wanted to return were welcome because party chief Uddhav Thackeray has a large heart At the same time he warned that action would be taken against anyone acting against the partys interestsResponding to questions from reporters Aaditya Thackeray said there had been no contact with NimbalkarMeanwhile Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut alleged that legal and psychological pressure was being used to persuade party MPs to switch sides He also claimed that Nimbalkar had been offered a favourable outcome in the longpending murder case if he changed his political allegianceNimbalkar however rejected the allegationParty Awaits Next MoveWith none of the six MPs responding to the showcause notices and speculation continuing over their political future the Shiv Sena UBT leadership is closely monitoring the situationNimbalkars expected decision within the next two days is likely to be significant for both the party and the dissident group His stand could influence the future course of the ongoing political developments and determine whether the rebellion gathers momentum or begins to lose strengthWith inputs from PTI