Fresh political speculation erupted in Maharashtra on Thursday after Shiv Sena MLC Chandrakant Raghuvanshi claimed that six Members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction had shifted their support to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The claim has reignited discussions around the much-talked-about ‘Operation Tiger’, a term being used in political circles to describe a possible migration of leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp to the Shinde faction. If the claims are substantiated, the development could trigger another phase of political realignment within the party that split in 2022.
Speaking to reporters in Dhule, Raghuvanshi welcomed the alleged move and said the MPs had placed their faith in Shinde’s leadership.
“Operation Tiger has taken place in Maharashtra. Today, six MPs expressed their confidence in Eknath Shinde and have joined Shiv Sena. It is good that they joined us. I welcome them,” he said.
Raghuvanshi argued that elected representatives seeking to carry out development work should align themselves with the ruling alliance.
“If we have to do a good job, then there should be some fieldwork. This was the expectation of every representative. And today, if we have to do some work in the country, then we have to go with the Shiv Sena and the BJP,” he said.
The Shiv Sena leader further claimed that the MPs believed Shinde was carrying forward the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray.
“Balasaheb Thackeray was in their hearts. They felt that if they had to choose a path, no party was more worthy than Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Therefore, they expressed their faith in his leadership,” Raghuvanshi added.
The remarks come amid reports suggesting that seven of the nine Lok Sabha MPs belonging to Shiv Sena (UBT) were in contact with leaders from the Shinde-led faction. Although there has been no official confirmation from the MPs concerned, the reports have intensified speculation about a possible fresh split within the opposition camp.
The development has attracted significant political attention, drawing comparisons with the 2022 rebellion led by Shinde that resulted in the division of the Shiv Sena and dramatically altered Maharashtra’s political landscape.
Meanwhile, Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav also weighed in on the issue, targeting Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and accusing him of damaging the party through his style of politics.
Referring to reports of a letter submitted by Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs, Jadhav said the matter would now be decided by the Lok Sabha Speaker.
“Whatever letter the MPs have given is an internal matter of Shiv Sena (UBT). The Lok Sabha Speaker will take a decision on it,” he said.
Jadhav also referred to the party’s Foundation Day celebrations scheduled for June 19 and said that those committed to Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology would participate in the event.
“Tomorrow is Shiv Sena’s foundation day and those who believe in Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology will attend,” he said.
The latest developments have added to the uncertainty surrounding the future of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction, with political observers closely watching whether the ‘Operation Tiger’ speculation translates into an actual shift of lawmakers in the coming days.
