Leaders of the Shiv Sena have claimed that some of their party members have reached out to MPs of the Shiv Sena in a bid to persuade them to switch sides. The move has been dubbed ‘Operation Tiger’.
Photo: X/@narendramodi
Leaders of the Shiv Sena have claimed that some of their party members have reached out to MPs of the Shiv Sena in a bid to persuade them to switch sides. The move has been dubbed ‘Operation Tiger’.
Sources said the Shinde-led Sena has prepared a strategy to increase its strength in the Lok Sabha and is waiting for the right moment to attract MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.
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Party members have reportedly been instructed not to discuss the plan before the designated time. It has also been alleged that efforts are being made to initiate action against some leaders of the rival faction as part of the operation.
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The developments come in the wake of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
According to sources, Shinde also reviewed the ongoing legal battle in the Supreme Court of India regarding the ‘bow and arrow’ election symbol of the undivided Shiv Sena, in consultation with legal experts. He is reportedly fine-tuning his party’s legal strategy ahead of the next hearing.
Sources further indicated that ‘Operation Tiger’ could serve as a pre-emptive or contingency plan in case the court freezes the ‘bow and arrow’ symbol or restores it to the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Industries Minister Uday Samant and former MP Rahul Shewale reached Delhi on Wednesday, reportedly to discuss organisational changes within the party.
Responding to media queries about ‘Operation Tiger’, Uday Samant dismissed the speculation. “Shinde’s visit to Delhi was to meet party MPs, Prime Minister Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He guided our MPs on how to complement the NDA’s efforts for Maharashtra’s development.
There is no need for any ‘Operation Tiger’ as leaders are joining us voluntarily after seeing our work,” he said, adding that MPs from the Uddhav faction were not in contact with them, though some Congress MPs were.
Reacting sharply, Rajya Sabha MP and chief spokesperson of the Uddhav-led Sena, Sanjay Raut, alleged that such operations reflect misuse of power. “Eknath Shinde frequently visits Delhi because his party functions as an appendage of the BJP. ‘Operation Tiger’ is a combination of money power, misuse of investigative agencies, and political pressure,” Raut said.
He further claimed that attempts are being made by a section within the Shinde camp under central supervision, but asserted that all nine MPs of his faction had recently attended a party meeting, indicating unity within the ranks.
Raut also alleged discrimination against opposition representatives, stating that funds are being withheld and officials have been instructed not to undertake development work in constituencies represented by opposition MLAs, in an effort to portray them as ineffective.
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