Mumbai: Highlighting a seismic shift in Maharashtra’s political landscape, Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde on Monday declared that ‘Operation Tiger’ has been a full-proof and resounding success.
Welcoming six rebel Lok Sabha MPs from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction into his party, Shinde asserted that the crossover was executed strictly within legal, constitutional and parliamentary ambits.
“We don’t do incomplete operations. Operation Tiger is a resounding legal success. We have completed all the necessary legal formalities for this,” Shinde said at a press conference in Mumbai.
The six MPs who joined Shinde’s faction are Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi), Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv) and Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar (Hingoli).
The move reduces Uddhav Thackeray’s camp to three MPs out of its original nine, while Shinde’s parliamentary strength rises from seven to thirteen. By comprising a two-thirds majority of the UBT parliamentary group, the defecting bloc is expected to bypass disqualification proceedings under the anti-defection law.
Shinde described the development as the second phase of his June 2022 uprising, which split the undivided Shiv Sena.
“Four years ago, 40 MLAs came along to save the Shiv Sena, to protect the bow-and-arrow symbol, and to safeguard Balasaheb Thackeray’s thoughts. Critics said those 40 would never win again, but 40 became 60 MLAs. From Chaanda to Banda, Shiv Sena grew,” he recalled.
Shinde said that all six MPs will contest the 2029 general elections on the bow and arrow symbol and will be elected
Celebrating the arrival of the six MPs, Shinde said, “This time, it’s not just a boundary, we have hit a massive sixer! This is Phase Two of our journey. Our fight remains for Balasaheb’s ideals and the path of Hindutva. Shiv Sena is where the true Shiv Sainik stands. That is why these six MPs chose to join the real Shiv Sena.”
He praised Sanjay Jadhav and Sanjay Deshmukh as grassroots leaders and defended Omraje Nimbalkar against social media taunts, calling him a “Real Star.”
With three leaders named Sanjay now on his team, Shinde took a swipe at UBT strategist Sanjay Raut: “We now have three Sanjays with us. With this combined strength, our Shiv Sena will become unbreakable.”
Criticising the Thackeray camp’s management style, Shinde said, “They routinely abuse their own MPs and then expect them to stay. There is a serious chemical locha (mental glitch) in how they treat their leaders.”
The defecting MPs cited a lack of development funds and the inability to resolve civic and infrastructure problems while in opposition as their reasons for switching sides.
Shinde assured them that resource distribution would be prioritised under the ruling “double-engine” alliance with the BJP.
“Whether your issues are tied to the state or require backing from the Central Government in Delhi, nothing will be stalled. Your trust will never be betrayed,” he said.
Shinde concluded by stating that the party operates as a collaborative family without an absolute owner or singular dictator, and the immediate focus will be on expanding and strengthening the Shiv Sena organisation across Maharashtra.
(IANS)
