A fresh political controversy has erupted in Maharashtra over an alleged “Operation Tiger”, a reported attempt by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to engineer a split in the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).
For the past few days, Shiv Sena (UBT) has been holding meetings with its nine Lok Sabha MPs amid claims that six of them could break away and join the rival Shinde faction. The term “Operation Tiger” is a reference to the tiger symbol that was once closely associated with the undivided Shiv Sena founded by Bal Thackeray.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
According to reports, a group of six MPs could form a separate faction and later merge with the Shinde-led Sena in Parliament. However, these claims have not been independently verified.
The speculation prompted Uddhav Thackeray to convene meetings with party MPs. While several MPs attended in person, others joined virtually. Amid the rumours, Mumbai North East MP Sanjay Patil publicly denied reports of defection and reaffirmed his loyalty to the party.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut launched a sharp attack on the alleged rebels, warning that Maharashtra’s voters would not forgive elected representatives who switched sides. He also claimed that a chartered aircraft had landed in Nanded as part of the alleged operation to transport MPs.
Raut further alleged that MPs were being offered massive financial inducements to defect. According to him, some lawmakers were promised as much as 50 crore, with advance payments already made. No evidence has been publicly produced to support the claim.
Meanwhile, the BJP has distanced itself from the controversy. Maharashtra Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the party had no connection with any such operation.
Patil’s denial has added a new twist to the story. Under the anti-defection law, at least six of Shiv Sena (UBT)’s nine Lok Sabha MPs would need to break away together to avoid disqualification. If even one MP refuses to join the move, the numbers may fall short, making any formal split significantly more difficult.
With conflicting claims and denials emerging from both camps, the political battle over the alleged Operation Tiger continues to dominate Maharashtra’s political landscape.
