Six members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (UBT) have reportedly defected to the faction led by Eknath Shinde [1].
This shift threatens the stability of Uddhav Thackeray's political standing in New Delhi and Maharashtra. The loss of these lawmakers could significantly diminish the UBT's leverage within the Lok Sabha and signal a broader collapse of party discipline.
The movement, referred to by an unnamed Shiv Sena MLC as "Operation Tiger," suggests that six out of the nine UBT Lok Sabha MPs have switched their allegiance [1], [2]. In response, the party convened a meeting at Parliament House in New Delhi on Thursday to address the rebellion [3], [4].
To prevent further departures, the party issued a three-line whip to all its Lok Sabha members [2]. This directive serves as a formal command for members to remain loyal to the party line, or face disciplinary action.
Sanjay Raut, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), dismissed the reports of a mass exodus. He referred to the situation as "Op Tudwa" [3]. Raut said the effort required to win these seats was significant and warned the rebels about the consequences of their actions.
"Uddhav Thackeray, Sena (UBT) workers have toiled hard to ensure the victory of the MPs. Resign if you want to switch sides," Raut said [5].
While the UBT leadership maintains that all its MPs remain united, reports from other sources indicate a significant split [6]. The conflict centers on whether the UBT or the Shinde-led faction represents the original Shiv Sena — a dispute that continues to divide the party's base and its elected representatives.
“"Operation Tiger has taken place"”
The alleged defection of six MPs represents a critical blow to the Shiv Sena (UBT) and underscores the ongoing volatility of Maharashtra's political landscape. If these numbers are verified, it suggests that the Shinde faction has successfully eroded the legislative strength of the Thackeray camp, potentially altering the balance of power in the Lok Sabha and weakening the UBT's position in future state-level negotiations.
