A crucial meeting of Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs has been convened in Delhi as Operation Tiger speculation fuels rumours of defections to the Eknath Shinde camp. Party leaders, however, insist they remain firmly with Uddhav Thackeray.
Shiv Sena (UBT) has convened a meeting of its Lok Sabha MPs in Delhi as speculation over possible defections dominates Maharashtra politics. | IANS
Fresh speculation over the future of Shiv Sena (UBT) intensified on Wednesday after the party called a meeting of all its Lok Sabha members in Delhi, even as several leaders publicly dismissed reports of an impending split.
The parliamentary party meeting has been scheduled for June 18 at the Sansad Bhawan in the national capital. The development comes amid persistent rumours that a section of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs could be in touch with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, triggering what political circles in Maharashtra have dubbed “Operation Tiger”.
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Seeking to quell the speculation, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Rajabhau Waje said he remained firmly with party chief Uddhav Thackeray.
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“I am with Uddhav ji and will remain with him. I have no contacts with anyone else. I have not received any call. No contact has been established with me by Shinde ji,” Waje said after arriving in Delhi.
He added that he had travelled to the capital for a committee meeting and was not upset with the party leadership.
Another Shiv Sena (UBT) MP, Sanjay Dina Patil, also rejected reports linking him to any rebel group.
“I deny being on any rebel list. I am an MP of SSUBT and will be in SSUBT only,” he said.
The reports of possible defections have fuelled a fresh political confrontation between Maharashtra’s ruling alliance and the opposition.
Congress leader Nana Patole alleged that attempts were being made to lure elected representatives from rival parties and described the developments as an assault on democratic norms.
“This is not Operation Tiger; this is Operation Jackal,” Patole said, accusing the ruling alliance of pursuing power at any cost.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi also targeted the BJP, alleging efforts to engineer defections. In a social media post, she warned that leaders brought into political camps through such exercises may not remain loyal forever.
The BJP, however, distanced itself from the controversy.
Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the party had nothing to do with the movement of Shiv Sena (UBT) legislators or MPs.
“Uddhav Thackeray should know why his MPs or MLAs are leaving him. If they are going to Eknath Shinde, that is a matter related to him. BJP has no connection with this,” Bawankule said.
Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC also sought to play down the speculation, saying leaders from different parties often met Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde because they were inspired by his work.
“There should be no speculations,” she said.
Adding another layer to the political slugfest, BJP MLA Ashishrao Deshmukh claimed that Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut was exploring a larger political realignment involving Congress and Sharad Pawar’s party. The claim drew no immediate response from Shiv Sena (UBT).
Meanwhile, Raut continued his attack on alleged attempts to poach legislators. Responding to remarks made on social media by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, he sarcastically claimed the “Minimum Support Price” for an MP had been fixed at ₹50 crore and that ₹15 crore was only an advance amount.
No evidence was provided by Raut to support the allegation.
The political temperature has risen sharply as Maharashtra witnesses renewed chatter over possible defections from Shiv Sena (UBT), four years after Eknath Shinde’s rebellion triggered a split in the party and reshaped the state’s political landscape.
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