Rebel MPs challenge Shiv Sena UBT plea in Supreme Court as premature

Rebel members of Shiv Sena have challenged a petition filed by the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction in the Supreme Court, contending it is premature. The rebels argue that a merger can only be raised as a defence when MPs actually face disqualification proceedings.

The Uddhav Sena had sought to use merger as a legal shield in its case. However, the opposing faction maintains that this defence is not available at the current stage, and the plea should proceed only after formal disqualification action is initiated against specific MPs.