India, June 20 -- The recent departure of six MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena comes at a particularly symbolic moment. A party preparing to enter the 60th year since its foundation finds itself confronting yet another organisational setback after a tumultuous period marked by the 2022 rebellion led by Eknath Shinde, the loss of its traditional name and symbol and a continuing struggle to remain politically relevant in Maharashtra.

Much of the discussion around the split focuses on why it happened. More important, however, is understanding how it became possible. The current crisis is not merely about leaders changing sides. It reflects the weakening of the idea of Sena that sustained the party for six decades and the emergenc...