Mumbai: None of the six rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs have replied to the show-cause notice issued by the party on June 18 for not attending the parliamentary party meeting on that day. They were given a 24-hour ultimatum to respond. With no response received and speculation that MP Omraje Nimbalkar has not signed the letter for formation of a separate group and is yet to take a final call on joining Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, the Shiv Sena (UBT) is likely to call for another parliamentary party meeting next week to see of any of the defecting MPs turn up.Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and chief whip Anil Desai said the party will follow due process to initiate the disqualification of the MPs for defying the party whip and indulging in anti-party activities by speaking against the leadership in violation of party discipline, which amounts to voluntarily giving up membership of the party.Desai said party chief Uddhav Thackeray will decide on Omraje Nimbalkar soon. With Nimbalkar facing a setback in his father’s murder case where all accused have been acquitted, it remains to be seen if he will come up for the 2nd meeting.“In Shiv Sena (UBT), the party chief’s decision has always been final and unquestionable, and this has once again become clear from this reaction. Omraje Nimbalkar might be in a state of shock. The kind of justice which has been delivered in his father’s murder case … they have acquitted all the accused and they have given reasons also. It is unfortunate, because Omraje was following it up rigorously. It was a very grave incident as far as his family was concerned. After 20 years, the acquittal has given a very big blow to Omraje’s expectations. Naturally, how he sees it, evaluates it, that is to be seen,” Desai said.“The decision will be taken by the party, with president Uddhavji. A show-cause notice has already been issued, and the process is ongoing. So far none of them have replied. We had given them a 24 -hour ultimatum. They can be disqualified on three counts. For defying party whip and not attending the parliamentary party meeting, violating party discipline and indulging in anti-party activity. Sharad Yadav was disqualified from the Rajya Sabha under the anti-defection law for appearing on the stage of a rival party. It was ruled that by his repeated conduct, public statements, and open alignment with a rival party, Yadav had ‘voluntarily given up his membership’,” Desai said.“Reports suggest Omraje was given some kind of promise which didn’t come to pass. So now at this stage you would understand that he would be in a state of shock. But he would realise who had the affinity, who had the affection, and who gave those promises,” Desai said.
