Mumbai: Amid growing speculation over possible defections from the Shiv Sena (UBT), party chief Uddhav Thackeray has reportedly delivered a blunt message to his Members of Parliament, stating that those who wish to leave the party are free to do so.
According to reports, Thackeray told party MPs that there was little point in holding back leaders who had already decided to switch sides. His remarks come at a time when Maharashtra’s political circles are abuzz with talk of an alleged “Operation Tiger”, under which several Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are believed to be in touch with the ruling Shiv Sena faction led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Reports have suggested that as many as seven of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs could be exploring the possibility of joining Shinde’s camp, fueling fresh speculation about shifting political loyalties ahead of future electoral battles in the state.
Sena (UBT) Dismisses Defection Rumours
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut strongly rejected the reports, insisting that the party remains united and intact. Following a meeting of party MPs convened by Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree, Raut dismissed the “Operation Tiger” narrative and countered it with a warning of his own.
“What Operation Tiger are you asking about? We are all tigers. We are going to launch Operation Wolf. We are not going to be scared. All our MPs and Parliamentary Party are intact, united and strong, and it will continue that way,” Raut said.
The senior leader clarified that the meeting was part of the party’s routine organisational activities and not a response to the ongoing political speculation. According to Raut, four MPs attended the meeting in person, while five joined through video conferencing.
Questions Over MPs’ Attendance
Amid reports that some MPs were absent from the gathering, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Dina Patil brushed aside the speculation.
“Why won’t I come? I have come. People can say anything,” Patil told reporters, dismissing rumours of internal discord within the party.
Shaina NC Takes Swipe at Uddhav
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader Shaina NC rejected allegations that the Shinde-led faction was attempting to engineer defections from rival parties. She maintained that the party had no interest in breaking other political outfits and instead highlighted the growing popularity of Eknath Shinde.
Taking a veiled dig at Uddhav Thackeray, Shaina echoed a criticism frequently used by Mahayuti leaders against the former chief minister.
“We have no interest in breaking any party. Everyone has seen the popularity of our leader, Eknath Shinde, because he is loyal to the common people and works at the grassroots level. He doesn’t work from home,” she said.
Political Temperature Rises
With rumours of “Operation Tiger” refusing to die down and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders aggressively pushing back against the narrative, Maharashtra’s political landscape remains on edge. While the Thackeray camp insists that its parliamentary unit remains united, the coming weeks could prove crucial in determining whether the speculation is merely political chatter or a sign of larger realignments within the state’s opposition ranks.
Follow us on Twitter, Google News, and Instagram and like us on Facebook for the latest updates and exciting stories.
