A strong declaration of loyalty to Uddhav Thackeray was made by eight Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Shiv Sena (UBT) during a press conference in New Delhi on Friday. Any speculation regarding their defection to the Eknath Shinde-led faction was denied, and their commitment to the party leadership was emphasized.
The press conference was seen as a response to reports suggesting that a significant political shift was being prepared. It had been claimed that six of the nine MPs from the Thackeray faction were planning to align with Shinde’s Shiv Sena under what was being termed ‘Operation Tiger.’ This move was reportedly being facilitated with the support of the BJP. However, it was stated by insiders that legal complications, particularly the anti-defection law, had created obstacles for the plan’s immediate execution.
According to existing regulations, a minimum of six MPs would be required to defect together in order to avoid disqualification. Any smaller group attempting to switch sides independently would face legal consequences under the anti-defection law. The issue of defection was brought into focus at the ‘Shiv Bandhan’ event organized by Shiv Sena (UBT), where a strong response was delivered by Thackeray. It was asserted by him that efforts to break the party would not succeed if government power was not misused. A direct challenge was issued by him to the ruling Mahayuti alliance, in which their ability to weaken the party was questioned.
Further allegations were made by Thackeray regarding electoral fraud in Maharashtra’s recent elections. It was claimed that a large number of fake voters had been created and that a suspicious increase in new voter registrations had been noticed. A demand for an investigation into the alleged manipulation was made, and concerns about the weakening of Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) were raised.
The political strategy behind ‘Operation Tiger’ was also dismissed by Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, who described it as a failed attempt to destabilize the party. It was argued by him that daily operations were being conducted by Devendra Fadnavis against defectors, who were allegedly facing continuous humiliation. A comparison was made by Raut between the Shinde faction and an appendix, suggesting that it could be removed at any time without any significant impact. Amid growing political tensions, a firm stance has been maintained by the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), and warnings against any attempts to divide the party have been issued. With ongoing internal struggles and legal constraints, the future course of action taken by the faction’s MPs remains to be seen.
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