Shinde Claims ‘Operation Tiger’ Success As 6 MPs Formerly Cross Over
Defection strengthens Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, weakens Uddhav camp in Parliament.
Mumbai: In a major political setback for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), six of its Lok Sabha MPs on Monday formally joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, further weakening the Opposition’s parliamentary strength.
Welcoming the MPs into the party fold, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde said he believes in fulfilling promises and completing every mission he undertakes. Referring to the political exercise that culminated in the induction of the MPs, Shinde declared that “Operation Tiger” had been completed successfully. He also claimed that the Shiv Sena had now become the second-largest political party in Maharashtra.
The development came five days after the six MPs skipped a crucial Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi, triggering speculation about an imminent rebellion. Only three Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led outfit attended the meeting, highlighting growing discontent within the party's parliamentary ranks.
The six MPs — Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli), Omprakash Rajenimbalkar (Dharashiv) and Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi) — formally joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena at a function held at the Y.B. Chavan Centre in Mumbai in the presence of Mr. Shinde and other senior party leaders.
“All necessary legal and constitutional formalities related to this process have been completed,” Shinde said. He added that the six MPs had joined the “original Shiv Sena” that follows the ideology of the late Balasaheb Thackeray.
Shinde said the new entrants would be accorded due respect and assured them that they would not be neglected within the party. He also announced that all six MPs would contest the 2029 Lok Sabha election on the Shiv Sena’s bow-and-arrow symbol. “All of them will get elected,” he claimed.
After joining the Shiv Sena, Sanjay Dina Patil questioned the leadership style of Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and blamed a lack of internal dialogue for the split. “Uddhav Thackeray visited the Mumbai North East constituency yesterday. Had he come earlier, this situation would not have arisen,” he said.
Without naming Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Raut, Patil alleged that the party leadership failed to address his grievances. “If I had not attended the meeting of the rebel MPs, the quorum would not have been completed. Had I been invited and consulted, this would not have happened. If the person who abused me had been asked to apologise, none of this would have occurred,” he said.
Patil further alleged that the party leadership preferred sycophants over strong leaders. “The leadership does not want strong leaders; it wants slaves,” he claimed.
