Senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut has sought to downplay the impact of a rebellion by six Lok Sabha MPs from the party, asserting that the organisation will continue to move forward despite the latest political setback.

Speaking as Shiv Sena marked its 60th foundation year, Raut said the party’s future does not depend on elected representatives and that it has overcome several challenges during its long history. He remarked that people may come and go, but the party continues its journey forward.

The comments come amid growing turmoil within the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction after six MPs signalled their intention to break away. According to reports, the rebel lawmakers are dissatisfied with the leadership style of Uddhav Thackeray and have also expressed concerns over the party’s closeness to the Congress.

Among those seeking to leave the party are MPs Omraje Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Bhausaheb Vakchaure. Reports indicate that the lawmakers recently met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and cited concerns about the party’s political direction.

Party can rebuild after setbacks, says Raut

Referring to the latest round of defections, Raut maintained that Shiv Sena (UBT) has faced betrayals and internal challenges before and has always managed to recover. He stressed that the party remains cadre-based and is not dependent on MPs or MLAs for its existence.

The Rajya Sabha MP also accused the ruling BJP of attempting to weaken regional political parties across the country. According to Raut, efforts have been made over the past decade to diminish the role of regional forces, and a healthy democracy requires a strong opposition.

The rebellion has intensified speculation about another split within the Thackeray camp, which has already faced major political upheaval in recent years. However, the party leadership has indicated that it intends to continue its organisational work and focus on rebuilding support despite the current crisis.

Indian equity benchmarks came under pressure on Friday as a sharp decline in information technology stocks erased a portion of the gains made during the recent market rally. Weak guidance from global technology services giant Accenture triggered concerns about demand trends in the IT sector, leading to broad-based selling across major Indian technology companies.

The benchmark Sensex and Nifty opened lower, while the Nifty IT index emerged as the worst-performing sectoral gauge of the day. Shares of major IT firms, including TCS, Infosys, Wipro and HCLTech, witnessed steep declines as investors reacted to concerns over slowing technology spending and limited visibility on future demand.

Accenture guidance rattles investor confidence

Market sentiment weakened after Accenture reported quarterly results and revised its revenue outlook, citing softer demand conditions. The development raised concerns about the broader global technology services industry, particularly for Indian IT companies that derive a significant portion of their revenue from overseas clients.

Analysts noted that Accenture’s cautious commentary added to existing worries about discretionary technology spending and delayed client decision-making. The company’s outlook is often viewed as an indicator of global demand trends for IT services.

Nifty IT sees sharp decline

The Nifty IT index dropped more than 5%, with all constituent stocks trading in negative territory. TCS, Infosys, Wipro and HCLTech were among the major laggards, falling between roughly 3% and 8% during trading.

The weakness in technology shares also weighed on broader market sentiment, ending the momentum seen in recent sessions. Investors turned cautious amid concerns about global growth, technology spending trends and earnings visibility for export-focused IT companies.

Broader market under pressure

Apart from the IT selloff, analysts pointed to profit-booking after the recent rally, weaker global cues and risk aversion among investors as additional factors behind the market decline. Mid-cap and small-cap indices also traded lower, reflecting broader weakness across sectors.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended birthday greetings to Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on the occasion of his 56th birthday.

In a post on X, PM Modi conveyed his wishes for Rahul Gandhi’s well-being and longevity. He described the Congress MP as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and prayed for his good health and a long life.

Rahul Gandhi, one of the senior-most leaders of the Congress party, celebrated his 56th birthday on June 19. He currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

The Prime Minister’s message was noted as a gesture of courtesy between leaders from rival political parties, who frequently engage in sharp political debates on national issues.