Mumbai, June 23:
In a significant political development in Maharashtra, six Members of Parliament from the faction led by Uddhav Thackeray have defected to the rival camp headed by Eknath Shinde, dealing a major blow to the former’s leadership.
The MPs, who were part of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, formally joined the ruling Shiv Sena led by Shinde, further deepening the split within the party that began during the 2022 political crisis. The move is being seen as part of an ongoing strategy, often referred to in political circles as “Operation Tiger,” aimed at consolidating Shinde’s position within the party and expanding his influence at the national level.
Reports indicate that the defecting MPs include prominent leaders such as Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Patil, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, and Sanjay Deshmukh. Their exit significantly weakens the parliamentary strength of the Thackeray-led faction.
Welcoming the MPs, Shinde described the development as a major success and reaffirmed that more leaders could join his faction in the future. The shift is expected to strengthen the ruling alliance’s numbers in Parliament and reshape political equations ahead of upcoming elections.
The defection has triggered political tension within the Thackeray camp, which is now facing internal dissent and declining numbers. Analysts believe this could further alter the balance of power in Maharashtra politics, where the Shiv Sena continues to remain divided between the two factions.