NDA ranks boosted as Om Birla okays 6 rebel UBT MPs joining Shiv Sena

NEW DELHI: In a boost for BJP-led NDA's ranks in the Lok Sabha, Speaker Om Birla on Saturday recognised the six rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs' decision to join Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, even as he is yet to take a final call on the merger of 20 rebel TMC MPs with little-known Nationalist Citizens Party of India (NCPI).However, Birla has decided to accept the rebel TMC faction's demand that they be allotted separate seats in the Lok Sabha as part of NDA, which for all practical purposes means that they can vote with the governing alliance on key issues, including the Constitution Amendment Bill for raising the maximum strength of the House to 850 if govt introduces it.Official sources said their merger with NCPI is still being examined.The rebel faction will also be attending the customary a