A fresh political storm is brewing in Maharashtra as speculation around "Operation Tiger" intensifies. The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is facing a massive challenge with reports suggesting that multiple party MPs are on the verge of crossing over to the rival faction led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In response to these rapid developments reported by TrendKia sources, Uddhav Thackeray has summoned an emergency meeting of all his party MLAs, while his son Aaditya Thackeray has launched a scathing attack on the lawmakers planning to switch sides. Opposition leaders are also labeling this engineered defection as a crisis for democracy.
The Numbers Game and Shinde's Big Claim
Pratap Sarnaik, a minister in the Maharashtra government, made a bold declaration that the Uddhav Thackeray faction is set to receive a severe blow. According to Sarnaik, six MPs are joining Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena on Monday, bringing their total strength in Parliament to 13. He stated that these MPs have already submitted their letters to the Speaker and officially merged. A press conference scheduled for 3:00 PM is expected to formalize this announcement. Sarnaik also hinted that three more MPs from the UBT group could jump ship in the near future. Taking a dig at Sanjay Raut, Sarnaik mockingly thanked him, claiming Raut's actions helped bring all MLAs and now the MPs over to Shinde's side. TrendKia sources indicate that the actual joining of the rebel MPs could take place around 4:00 PM on Monday.
Shinde Hints at a 'Foolproof' Operation
Adding fuel to the political fire, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde gave strong indications about the impending shift, promising "breaking news" very soon. Speaking in Mumbai on Monday, Shinde remarked, "We do not leave any operation incomplete. Operation Tiger is completely foolproof. You have experienced this before as well. Soon, you will get good news." Dismissing various rumors and speculations, Shinde reassured that the plan was carefully structured and on track.
Aaditya Thackeray and Opposition Slam 'Betrayal'
The developments have triggered a fierce backlash from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and its allies. Aaditya Thackeray took to the social media platform X to express his fury, stating that the defecting MPs have shamelessly proven that their loyalty and credibility are up for sale. He pointed out that these MPs won their seats on the joint platform of the Mahavikas Aghadi (MVA) and the INDIA alliance, where workers from Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress, and NCP campaigned hard for them, and voters explicitly voted against the NDA. Aaditya argued that excuses about changing ideologies or alliances are mere cover-ups for sheer greed and a betrayal of the public mandate.
Supporting this view, RJD MP Manoj Jha refused to term the lawmakers as "rebels," stating they won on the UBT symbol. Jha declared, "How can they be called rebels? They contested the election on the symbol of Shiv Sena (UBT). When Shiv Sena (UBT) or TMC experience this kind of engineering, it is not just their crisis, but a crisis for democracy. This is not a betrayal of Uddhav Thackeray, but of the voters who chose them as an option. Aren't you committing an injustice against them?"
Similarly, Congress leader Bhai Jagtap questioned the democratic nature of "Operation Tiger," criticizing the use of muscle power, financial influence, and underhanded tactics. Jagtap questioned, "Is this democracy? Is it democratic to engineer such defections using muscle power, money power, and other tactics when we are elected based on a constitution and contest on a single party symbol? The kind of politics being played in this country and state since 2014 is unconstitutional."
Uddhav’s Rally Cry and Urgent MLA Meeting
In a bid to keep his remaining flock together, Uddhav Thackeray convened a crucial meeting with all 20 of his party's MLAs at the Shiv Sena office at 2:30 PM on Monday, having personally contacted each of them. Amidst these defensive maneuvers, Uddhav also addressed a rally in Mumbai, asserting that his faction represents the real Shiv Sena. He launched a direct attack on the BJP, pointing out that while the Shiv Sena fought against the Congress for nearly 30 years, the Congress never tried to destroy or hijack the party. He accused the BJP of using state power and organizational muscle to systematically dismantle and weaken the Shiv Sena.
Personal Feuds Enter the Political Arena
The political war of words also took a highly personal turn. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde targeted the UBT leadership over their treatment of Umraje Nimbalkar's family following a court verdict regarding his father's murder. Shinde claimed that while the family was grieving, UBT members were publicly insulting Nimbalkar. He alleged that the very people who humiliate him during the day secretly visit his residence at night to touch his feet, exposing what he called their hypocrisy.
