Battle erupts between Uddhav & Shinde factions over Shiv Sena leadership in Lok Sabha

Hours after Eknath Shinde's meeting with Shiv Sena MPs, Republic learnt that Rahul Shewale will replace Vinayak Raut as  leer of party in Lok Sabha. Sources told channel that a letter in this regard will be sent to Om Birla, Speaker of Lower House of Parliament, on Tuesday.

However, Vinayak Raut has alrey sent a letter to Birla, in which he has claimed that he is duly appointed leer of Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha. In letter, he also claimed that Rajan Vichare is Chief Whip of party in Lower House of Parliament. Vichare was minated as chief whip, replacing MP Bhavana Gawali, who was one of Sena MPs to suggest that party will ally with BJP again amid rebellion led by Shinde. 

'Do t ackwledge or entertain representation me by any or MP'

"You are, refore, called upon t to ackwledge or entertain representation me by any or MP(s) or ackwledge or entertain any direction/whip issued by anybody else, falsely claiming to be leer or chief whip of Shiv Sena Parliamentary Party. You are furr requested to immediately tify me of any such representation me, if at all, by any MPs belonging to our party, so that I can respond to same and take necessary action," re letter. 

MPs Vinayak Raut, Arvind Sawant, Gajanan Kiritkar, Sanjay Jhav, Om Rane Nimbalkar, and Rajan Vichare did t attend virtual meeting called by Shinde while rest 12 MPs from Maharashtra attended. Shiv Sena has 19 MPs in Lok Sabha, including 18 from Maharashtra.