Reports of six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena have been firmly denied by both rival factions, even as fresh political speculation grips Maharashtra ahead of the party’s foundation day celebrations.
The controversy erupted after a section of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs skipped a key parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi on Thursday, triggering renewed discussion around the so-called ‘Operation Tiger’ – a term being used for the alleged efforts to bring leaders from Uddhav Thackeray’s camp into the ruling Shiv Sena faction.
Sources in the Shinde-led Shiv Sena said no induction of MPs from the rival camp is scheduled during the party’s foundation day programme at NESCO in Mumbai.
Leaders from the Shiv Sena (UBT) also dismissed the reports and rejected claims that their MPs were set to cross over.
The speculation gained momentum after only three Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs – Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje – attended Thursday’s parliamentary meeting convened by Desai.
Six MPs – Sanjay Jadhav, Nagesh Aashtikar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, Sanjay Deshmukh, and Bhausaheb Wakchaure – remained absent.
Soon after, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut said show-cause notices had been served to the six MPs and that steps had been initiated to seek action against them.
“The process for taking action has started,” Raut told reporters.
“We will make every effort to get them disqualified. If the Speaker of the Lok Sabha works according to the rules, the law, and the Supreme Court’s directives, these people will be disqualified,” he said.
Absence of six MPs fuels defection speculation
Political circles in Maharashtra have been abuzz with reports that several Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are in touch with leaders from the Shinde camp and could shift allegiance to the ruling faction.
The discussion comes nearly three years after Eknath Shinde led a rebellion within the undivided Shiv Sena in 2022, resulting in a split in the party.
‘Operation Tiger’ gains traction after MLC’s claim
The latest round of speculation intensified after Shiv Sena MLC Chandrakant Raghuvanshi claimed that six MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction had expressed faith in Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and had already joined his camp.
However, the Shinde-led Shiv Sena has denied that any such induction is planned during Friday’s foundation day event.
June 19 holds significance for both factions, with each group observing the Shiv Sena’s foundation day separately amid the continuing political rivalry.