India, June 18 -- Maharashtra was gripped by its third political crisis in four years on Wednesday after the Shiv Sena said that six out of the nine Lok Sabha members of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had signed a letter to form a separate grouping and plan to merge with the Sena, sparking a furious response from the latter amid confusion about the actual number of rebels.

The Sena, led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, said that six rebel Sena (UBT) MPs - Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Sanjay Patil and Omraje Nimbalkar - had signed a letter stating they had formed a separate group.

"Six MPs have formed a group. We are told that they submitted a letter to the Lok Sabha speak...