Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs likely to join Shinde camp today, setting stage for stormy Maharashtra session

Political developments are expected to overshadow legislative business when Maharashtra’s monsoon session opens on Monday, with six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs likely to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

The anticipated defections have triggered a fresh confrontation between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition, with rival camps trading charges of political poaching, betrayal and misuse of power. The development comes even as the three-week session is expected to focus on governance issues, including concerns over an erratic monsoon and its impact on the state’s farming sector.

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Shiv Sena MLA and Maharashtra Minister Pratap Sarnaik claimed that six MPs would formally join the party on Sunday afternoon.

“At 3 pm today, six MPs will officially join Shiv Sena. This will increase the number of our MPs from 7 to 13. This has increased the strength of Shiv Sena,” Sarnaik said.

#WATCH | Mumbai | On 6 rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs to join Shinde camp today, Maharashtra Minister & Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik says, “At 3 pm today, six MPs will officially join Shiv Sena. This will increase the number of our MPs from 7 to 13. This has increased the strength of… pic.twitter.com/vNz6bnGUhQ

— ANI (@ANI) June 22, 2026

The reported shift in loyalties has fuelled debate over what opposition parties have labelled as “Operation Tiger” – an alleged effort by the ruling alliance to attract lawmakers from rival parties.

Congress leader Pawan Khera dismissed the operation as political opportunism and questioned the motives behind the exercise.

“This is operation ‘keechad’ because they could not, the Lotus could not flower in these constituencies. But our question is why he is so hurt because he stopped at 240 and not 400 seats that now he is busy stealing MPs from other parties like TMC, now Shiv Sena, why?” Khera said.

He further asked, “What is the intention? Is the intention to actually change the Constitution?… What is the intention behind this dacoity?”

Congress leader Satej Patil also targeted the ruling alliance, alleging that the campaign was being carried out with support from the national leadership.

“The Shinde faction is gaining strength through Operation Tiger. This is visible, and with Delhi’s blessings, this operation is being carried out. They have been promised many things,” Patil said.

He criticised elected representatives for changing political sides after winning elections.

“I think it has become a trend to win from one party and switch to another party. All I have to say is, if you want to go, resign and contest elections again. There’s no problem,” he added.

The political temperature had already risen ahead of the session after Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders publicly attacked the rebel MPs.

Rajya Sabha MP and party spokesperson Sanjay Raut launched a sharp attack on defectors, including Dharashiv MP Omraje Nimbalkar and Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil Ashtikar. He questioned their loyalty to the party and said leaders who had benefited from Uddhav Thackeray’s support were now abandoning the organisation.

Raut also responded to remarks by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who recently joked about carrying out large-scale political “operations”.

Questioning Shinde’s political future, Raut said, “He is the deputy Chief Minister today, but he won’t be there tomorrow.”

A day earlier, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray apologised to voters in constituencies represented by leaders who are now leaving the party. He said several MPs had won elections on the strength of the party’s organisation and support base.

Thackeray also accused his rivals of engaging in continuous political poaching and warned that his party could launch a counter-strategy if attempts to engineer defections continued.

“If they keep poaching our MPs or MLAs using ‘Operation Tiger,’ we too will have to carry out ‘Operation Lotus’ against them,” he said.

The legislature session is scheduled to continue until July 10 and is expected to witness heated exchanges as the battle over defections spills from party platforms to the floor of the House.