Maharashtra's political circles are buzzing once again. Two political phrases, "Operation Tiger" and "Operation Tutari", are dominating headlines these days. On one hand, there is talk of some opposition leaders shifting toward the Mahayuti camp, and on the other, all kinds of claims are circulating about a possible split in Sharad Pawar's NCP and about where the party goes from here. Speculation has gone as far as suggesting that options ranging from a merger with Congress to extending support to the NDA are being weighed internally to prevent the party from breaking apart. However, both NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Congress have flatly rejected these reports, while the BJP has not dismissed the claims outright, instead pointing to the political future of opposition MLAs and MPs. The entire episode is unfolding at a time when political equations on both the ruling and opposition sides in Maharashtra appear to be shifting rapidly.
Why 'Operation Tutari' is the talk of the town
"Operation Tutari" has become the biggest talking point in Maharashtra politics right now. Political circles claim that amid fears of a split, Sharad Pawar's NCP is weighing several options for its political future. On one side, there is chatter about deliberations over a possible merger with Congress, and on the other, options such as supporting the NDA from inside or outside, or even joining the alliance directly, are said to be under consideration. Notably, this entire round of speculation has picked up right as reports emerge of some opposition leaders leaning toward the Mahayuti, fuelling further talk that Maharashtra's politics could see a major shake-up in the days ahead.
Claim of a major central role offered to Supriya Sule
Citing sources, it is also being claimed that certain proposals have been placed before both Congress and the BJP. These reportedly include giving Supriya Sule an important responsibility at the Centre, along with important posts for other party leaders either at the Centre or in Maharashtra. The reasoning offered behind these alleged proposals is that such offers could be used to prevent a split and keep leaders politically satisfied. However, since neither side has officially confirmed any of these claims, this information currently remains confined to the realm of speculation and unverified claims.
'The party is completely united,' says Shashikant Shinde
Responding to all this speculation, Maharashtra NCP (Sharad Pawar) state president Shashikant Shinde offered a clear clarification. He said there has been no discussion at all about a merger with Congress, nor is there any proposal before the party to support the NDA from inside or outside. According to Shinde, NCP (Sharad Pawar) is an independent party with its own distinct ideology. He stressed that the party is fully united, that no MLA or MP is talking about leaving the party, and that none of them have any desire to align with either Congress or the NDA.
Nana Patole says there is no merger proposal
Congress has also rejected the speculation outright. Senior Maharashtra Congress leader Nana Patole said that when he was the state Congress president in 2024, a proposal of this kind had indeed come up before the Lok Sabha elections, but it did not move forward. Patole made it clear that Congress currently has no proposal for a merger with NCP (Sharad Pawar) and that there is no truth to reports of this nature.
Aditya Thackeray calls it 'Operation Devendra'
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray viewed the entire development from a completely different angle. He said this is neither Operation Tiger nor Operation Tutari, but is in fact "Operation Devendra". According to Thackeray, the real aim behind attempts to break opposition parties in Maharashtra is to weaken Devendra Fadnavis and cut down his political stature.
Chandrashekhar Bawankule questions opposition leadership
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader and cabinet minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule raised questions about the leadership of opposition parties. He said that whether it is Shiv Sena (UBT) or Sharad Pawar's NCP, a clear lack of leadership is visible in both. Bawankule also said that because of Sharad Pawar's advancing age, the party's MLAs and MPs are beginning to look for new political options for their own futures. He added that if any public representative wishes to join the NDA, inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and development agenda, the BJP has no objection to it.
What happens next, all eyes on the coming days
For now, claims and counter-claims over "Operation Tutari" continue to pour in. On one side, NCP (Sharad Pawar) and Congress are flatly rejecting all this speculation, while on the other, the BJP is claiming there is a leadership crisis within the opposition parties. With that, all eyes are now on the days ahead, as it will be interesting to see which way Maharashtra's politics turns next.
