New Delhi, July 14 -- The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Monday issued a formal warning to its defected Lok Sabha members following reports that they are attempting to claim a "merger" with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Arvind Ganpat Sawant, the Leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT) Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha, sent a detailed communication to the MPs--Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar, Nagesh Ashtikar, Sanjay (Bandu) Haribhau Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, and Sanjay Dina Patil--asserting that the parent political party has not authorised any such move.

"It has come to our knowledge through reports in public domain that you, along with certain other Members of Parliament are attempting to portray that there is a 'merger' of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thacke...