Mumbai: In a major political development in Maharashtra, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Monday carried out “Operation Tiger”, triggering a split within Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) after six Lok Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs) from the UBT faction formally joined the Shinde camp.
The six rebel MPs are Omprakash Bhupalsinh alias Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv/Osmanabad), Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli), Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim), Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure (Shirdi), and Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East).
The move reduces the Shiv Sena UBT’s strength in the Lok Sabha from nine MPs to three, while increasing the Shinde faction’s tally from seven to thirteen. The three MPs who continue to remain with Uddhav Thackeray are Arvind Sawant (Mumbai South), Anil Desai (Mumbai South Central), and Rajabhau Waje (Nashik).
The signs of a split emerged after six of the nine UBT MPs skipped a crucial Shiv Sena parliamentary party meeting in Delhi. The speculation ended when the rebel MPs submitted a formal letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking recognition as a separate group.
By joining together as a group of six, the MPs have crossed the required two-thirds threshold under the anti-defection law, allowing them to split without facing disqualification.
Explaining their decision, Nagesh Ashtikar and Omraje Nimbalkar said that remaining in the Opposition for two years had affected development work in their constituencies. They said the limited allocation under the Rs 5 crore MPLAD scheme was insufficient and that functioning without state-backed resources was weakening their grassroots connect.
Ashtikar, during a Facebook Live session, said he had no personal issues with Uddhav Thackeray but criticised the “harsh, abusive language” and lack of trust shown by senior leaders, including Sanjay Raut, after the MPs skipped the Delhi meeting.
Omraje Nimbalkar’s decision to switch sides came after a sessions court acquitted the accused in the murder case of his father, Pawanraje Nimbalkar. He said Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis helped arrange a discussion with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured him that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would challenge the verdict on merit.
Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray has launched a statewide outreach campaign to limit the political damage, beginning from the rebel MPs’ constituencies in Yavatmal, Washim and Hingoli.
Thackeray accused the defectors of “selling themselves after increasing their value post-election.”
The defection of six UBT MPs to the Shinde faction strengthens Shinde’s claim of representing the original Shiv Sena legacy founded by Balasaheb Thackeray. The move also boosts the Mahayuti alliance by bringing in leaders who won from grassroots constituencies and are seeking stronger state-level support for development initiatives.
With IANS inputs