Operation Tiger is successful: Fadnavis after 2 rebel UBT MPs switch to Shinde Sena

Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis said "Operation Tiger" had succeeded after two Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs confirmed they would join Eknath Shinde's Sena. The defections triggered a fresh attack from Sena UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, who said there was only "one Shiv Sena".

In Short

• 2 rebel Sena (UBT) MPs to join Shinde Sena, citing fund crunch in constituencies
• Eknath Shinde hints at more defections soon, calls operations foolproof
• Uddhav Thackeray slams BJP, Shinde Sena, says there's only 'one Shiv Sena'

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday declared 'Operation Tiger' a success after two rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs confirmed their move to join Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, citing a crunch in funds in their constituencies and limitations of being in the Opposition camp.

'Operation Tiger' is the name given to the Shinde camp's alleged bid to engineer defections from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and strengthen its numbers in Parliament. The operation's name is seen as a reference to the tiger, the iconic symbol of the undivided Shiv Sena founded by Bal Thackeray, whose legacy both factions claim to represent.

Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis used a cricket-style metaphor to celebrate the defections. "Operation is successful. Body is also healthy," he said, referring to the much-discussed buzz of defections from the Uddhav Thackeray camp.

The remarks came hours after Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Dharashiv MP Omraje Nimbalkar – both from Sena UBT – confirmed their decision to switch to the Shinde faction.

Responding to the defections, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray launched a blistering attack on the BJP, the Shinde camp and the rebel MPs, asserting that there was "only one Shiv Sena". "People elected them because of Shiv Sena and the torch symbol. They were chosen as candidates, and I apologise to you for that mistake," he said.

Meanwhile, Shinde, who is also the Shiv Sena chief, hinted that more defections were on the way. "You will get breaking news soon. We do not execute half-baked operations. Whatever we do is foolproof," he said.

Ashtikar and Nimbalkar are among the six rebel UBT MPs who are likely to join the Shinde-led Sena at 3 pm on Monday, sources told India Today TV. The other MPs are Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Sanjay Dina Patil. All had skipped the Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on June 17, fuelling speculation about switching loyalties.

The defections mark another setback for Uddhav Thackeray, whose party suffered a crushing loss in the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly polls. This is also the first time since 2022 when Shinde engineered a split in the-then undivided Shiv Sena, resulting in the collapse of the Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.

The Uddhav Thackeray-led party currently has nine Lok Sabha MPs. The rebel group can avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law if at least six MPs defect together. If such a scenario were to occur, the party would be left with only three parliamentarians.

WHY 2 REBEL UBT MPS QUIT?

Explaining his move to switch to the Shinde-led Sena, Nimbalkar said he took the decision after consulting his supporters in Dharashiv. He cited a lack of development funds and his inability to address the concerns of ordinary people while being in the opposition. The MP said the shortage of funds had hampered development work in his constituency and influenced his decision to join the Shinde-led Sena.

At a press conference, Shinde defended Nimbalkar, saying the MP had been under immense emotional stress while awaiting a verdict in his father's alleged murder case. Despite that, he was targeted and abused by Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders, Shinde said, calling the treatment "shameful and unacceptable".

Ashtikar, meanwhile, said he and some other Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs had not made any decision to leave the party until June 18. However, remarks directed at them after that date changed their thinking, in an apparent reference to UBT MP Sanjay Raut.

"I and some other MPs had not made any decision until June 18. We had not gone anywhere. However, certain remarks were made against us since Thursday, which made us believe there was no point in staying here," he said in a video message.

The Hingoli MP also cited the lack of development funds and the limitations of being in the opposition as major reasons behind his decision. However, he maintained that he was not upset with either Uddhav Thackeray or Sanjay Raut.

UDDHAV THACKERAY ATTACKS BJP, SHINDE SENA, REBEL MPs

The defections came on the day when Uddhav Thackeray addressed a rally in Mumbai's Bhandup, the home turf of rebel MP Sanjay Dina Patil, and launched a blistering attack on the BJP, the Shinde camp and the defectors.

Addressing party workers, Thackeray said he did not see ordinary Shiv Sainiks (workers) before him but "burning torches". He thanked the "traitors and their masters" for reigniting the spirit of the party and said he had begun acting on a promise made during the party's anniversary event.

"Wherever betrayal happened, I am going there to apologise to the voters," he said, adding that people had elected the MPs because of Shiv Sena and the torch symbol. "They were chosen as candidates, and I apologise to you for that mistake."

Thackeray accused the BJP of repeatedly trying to weaken and split the Shiv Sena, saying his party had helped the BJP grow when it was politically insignificant.

"We held the hand of the BJP and helped it grow when no one cared about it in the streets. They had only two MPs in the entire country," he said. "Congress never tried to steal or destroy Shiv Sena, but the BJP did."

The former Maharashtra Chief Minister also questioned the political relevance of the defectors, saying their success was linked to the party platform that had elevated them. "Who made these traitors ministers and MLAs? The BJP stabbed us in the back and broke the promise it had made," he said.

"There is only one Shiv Sena, and it belongs to me, to us, and to Balasaheb. An outsider cannot decide who will lead Shiv Sena," he added.

Lashing out at the Shinde camp, Thackeray said chairs, cars and even appearances could be borrowed, but loyal workers could not. "You can hire a beard, a car or a chair. But you can never get loyal people who would give their lives for you," he further said.

- Ends