Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs' Defection Tests Tenth Schedule's Anti-Defection Provisions

Hindustan Times - India · 24 Jun 2026 · 2 min read
Prelims · Polity Mains · GS2 Polity and constitution High relevance

Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs defected to the Eknath Shinde-led faction, potentially boosting NDA's Lok Sabha strength to 300, while raising constitutional questions under the Tenth Schedule's anti-defection law.

Key points

Six MPs from Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) formally joined Eknath Shinde's faction, marking a significant political shift in Maharashtra.

NDA's Lok Sabha strength could increase from 294 to 300 if the Speaker approves the merger, though still short of the two-thirds majority (364) required for constitutional amendments.

Lok Sabha Speaker's approval is pending under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution, which governs anti-defection and merger provisions.

Shiv Sena's Lok Sabha tally would rise from 7 to 13 MPs in Maharashtra if the defection is recognized, altering the state's political dynamics.

[GS2-Polity] This connects to anti-defection law debates, as the Tenth Schedule's loopholes allow defections disguised as mergers, undermining electoral mandates.

Operation Tiger, the Shinde faction's strategy to lure Sena (UBT) members, reflects ongoing political realignments post-2024 Maharashtra assembly elections.

Constitutional implications arise as delimitation and women's reservation bills require stronger parliamentary majorities than NDA currently holds.

[GS3-Economy] Political instability from defections could delay critical economic reforms, impacting investor confidence and legislative productivity.

Way Forward: Amend the Tenth Schedule to define 'merger' strictly, impose cooling-off periods for defectors, and empower the Speaker with time-bound decisions to curb political opportunism.

Key terms

Tenth Schedule

The Tenth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, added by the 52nd Amendment Act (1985), contains anti-defection provisions to prevent elected members from switching parties arbitrarily. It mandates disqualification for voluntarily giving up party membership or voting against party whip, with exceptions for mergers approved by two-thirds of the legislative party. Its UPSC relevance lies in preserving political stability and electoral mandates, though loopholes enable engineered defections.

Operation Tiger

A political strategy by Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction to induct elected representatives from Uddhav Thackeray's Sena (UBT) through coordinated defections. Named metaphorically for aggressive recruitment, it exemplifies realpolitik tactics that exploit anti-defection law ambiguities, with implications for Maharashtra's governance and national coalition dynamics.

Two-thirds majority

A constitutional requirement under Article 368 for passing amendments, requiring approval by at least two-thirds of members present and voting, and a majority of total membership. For the 543-seat Lok Sabha, this translates to ~364 seats. UPSC relevance stems from its role in safeguarding constitutional integrity against transient parliamentary majorities.

Delimitation

The process of redrawing parliamentary and assembly constituency boundaries based on population changes, governed by the Delimitation Commission Act (2002). Scheduled for 2026, it raises federal concerns as southern states oppose population-based seat allocation, fearing reduced representation despite better demographic management.