The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) is on the verge of losing two-thirds of its Lok Sabha strength after six of its nine members defied the party whip and skipped a meeting of the parliamentary unit.
The six MPs, who have written to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla expressing their fears of a potential merger with the Congress, are expected to merge with the Shiv Sena soon.
The rebels, including Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Sanjay Dina Patil, and Omraje Nimbalkar, have proposed to form a separate grouping and intend to merge with the Shiv Sena.
Things are expected to come to a head on Friday, which marks the 60th foundation day of the Sena and will see separate functions led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde and Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
