For weeks, Nimbalkar had maintained that he would take a final decision only after the verdict in the case involving his father’s murder. With the judgment now delivered, attention has shifted back to whether he and the other rebel MPs will formally break ranks with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Sena.

Who is Omraje Nimbalkar?

A two-time MP from Dharashiv and one of the Shiv Sena’s prominent leaders in Marathwada, Omraje Nimbalkar entered politics after the murder of his father, Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar, in 2006.

Pawanraje’s killing, which investigators linked to a bitter political rivalry in Osmanabad, now known as Dharashiv, reshaped local politics and generated a wave of sympathy that helped propel Omraje into public life. At 26, he was elected MLA from Osmanabad on a Shiv Sena ticket in 2009.

Over the years, the pursuit of justice in the murder case became closely intertwined with Nimbalkar’s political journey. Investigators alleged that the rivalry centred on former NCP strongman Padamsinh Patil, Pawanraje’s cousin and one of the district’s most influential political figures. The CBI had alleged that Patil viewed Pawanraje’s growing influence as a challenge to his political dominance.

Patil was acquitted along with the other accused on Saturday. He is the brother of NCP chief Sunetra Pawar, while his son Rana Jagjitsinh Patil is a BJP MLA.

Reasons for Nimbalkar’s rebellion

As speculation over the Sena (UBT) split intensified, Nimbalkar argued his decision was driven by the realities of constituency politics rather than personal ambition.

“After the verdict in the murder case of my father, Pawanraje Nimbalkar, is delivered, I will return to Dharashiv, discuss the matter with party workers and then make a final decision,” he had said.

Explaining his position, Nimbalkar said: “The other side has power and money. I have only loyalty. But if, despite that loyalty, I am unable to get people’s work done, then how do I face them? How long can I continue going around empty handed? I had no other option.”

Contrasting the Mahayuti alliance with the Thackeray camp, he said: “There is a huge difference between the two. Even after getting so many MLAs elected, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde are not sitting idle. They worked extensively during local body elections and are now actively campaigning for the Legislative Council elections as well.”

Referring to Uddhav Thackeray’s health, he added: “I can understand that Uddhav Thackeray cannot travel extensively because of his health. But at least Aaditya Thackeray should have travelled more. He should have given strength to party workers. Unfortunately, that did not happen.”

Responding to allegations that financial inducements were behind the rebellion, Nimbalkar said: “The talk that I accepted money is false and baseless. For me, power and money have always been secondary. This decision is not about money. It is about development works in my constituency and meeting the expectations of my voters.”

Uddhav’s counterattack

At the party’s diamond jubilee celebrations on its foundation day Friday, Uddhav Thackeray singled out Nimbalkar while rejecting criticism that the party leadership had become inaccessible.

“They say I was not meeting people. If I was not meeting anyone, then how did you get elected?” Thackeray said. “I addressed rallies in your constituency. During the Lok Sabha elections, I held between six and 10 meetings in every constituency. You all won then, didn’t you?”

Drawing on historical examples associated with betrayal in Maharashtra’s political memory, Thackeray compared the rebels to Khandoji Khopade and Suryaji Pisal. “Even after 400 years, the stamp of betrayal has not been erased from their foreheads. How many years will it take for these people to erase that mark?”

He urged party workers not to remain silent spectators. “You worked hard and got them elected. You have every right to question them. Why are you giving up that right? Ask them how they found the courage to leave after being elected with your support.”

Nimbalkar after the verdict

Reacting to the acquittal, Nimbalkar questioned who would now be held responsible for his father’s murder.

“If all the accused have been acquitted, then who killed my father? Who will answer that question for me and my family?” he said.

He said the family had sought a CBI probe because it believed the initial investigation had been compromised. “By the time the case was transferred, crucial time had been lost and evidence had been destroyed, which ultimately benefited the accused,” he said.

Calling the verdict a major setback, he said: “For our family, this verdict was everything. We have spent two decades pursuing justice in this case. Hearing the verdict was more important to me than any political decision.”

Nimbalkar said the family would challenge the acquittal in the High Court. “We will move the High Court against this judgment and seek justice through the legal process,” he said.

On reports of a possible switch to the Shinde-led Sena, he avoided making any immediate announcement. “I will return to my constituency, speak to my party workers and the people who have stood by me, and then make a decision. Whatever my political stand is, I will announce it after consulting them,” Nimbalkar said.

Nimbalkar also dismissed attempts to link the verdict to his political future. “The court verdict and my political decision are two completely different issues. Linking the two is ridiculous,” he said.

For the Shiv Sena (UBT), however, the verdict has effectively removed the last publicly stated reason for delays in Nimbalkar’s decision-making. Whether he formally joins the Shinde camp in the coming days could determine the scale of the latest setback for Uddhav Thackeray and further deepen the split that has continued to haunt his party since 2022.