Mumbai, June 22 -- Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam on Monday hit back at Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut over his criticism of rebel legislators, asserting that the MPs joining the Eknath Shinde-led faction were leaving due to dissatisfaction with the Uddhav Thackeray-led leadership and not because of any inducements.

Responding to Raut's allegations that rebel MPs were "traitors" and had switched sides for monetary gains, Nirupam said the exodus reflected a crisis within the Shiv Sena (UBT) rather than any effort by the Shinde camp to lure lawmakers.

"The reality is that their party isn't looking after its own children, so those 'children' are leaving the party. The primary grievance of the MPs joining us today is that their leadership ...