The switch gives the rebel bloc the numbers needed to avoid anti-defection action and marks a significant setback for Uddhav Thackeray’s party
In a major political setback for Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), six of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in Mumbai on Monday, ending days of speculation over a possible split in the parliamentary wing.
The MPs who crossed over are Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv), Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North-East), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim), Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli) and Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi).
Welcoming the MPs into his camp, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde declared that the move marked the beginning of a new phase in his political battle for control of the Shiv Sena.
“The six tigers are here. They have all now joined the real Shiv Sena family. I welcome them to the real Shiv Sena family,” Shinde said.
Taking a swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, one of Uddhav Thackeray’s closest aides, Shinde remarked, “With the presence of three Sanjays, no other Sanjay counts anymore.”
Shinde also linked the latest defections to the rebellion he led in 2022, which split the Shiv Sena and eventually led to his faction securing control of the party name and election symbol.
“Earlier, we rebelled to save the bow and arrow and the Shiv Sena party. The second phase of it has begun now,” he said.
Numbers game and anti-defection law
The rebel group crossed the crucial threshold required under the anti-defection law. With six out of nine Lok Sabha MPs backing the move, the defectors now constitute two-thirds of the parliamentary party, protecting them from disqualification proceedings.
The political controversy intensified earlier when only three MPs attended an emergency parliamentary party meeting called by the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction in Delhi, fuelling speculation that a major split was imminent.
‘Operation Tiger’ comes to fruition
The development follows weeks of rumours surrounding “Operation Tiger“, a reported effort by the Shinde camp to bring elected representatives from the rival faction into its fold.
Before the announcement, the rebel MPs held meetings with Shinde in Mumbai. Following the discussions, Shinde indicated that the operation had succeeded and said a detailed briefing would be held at Balasaheb Bhavan.
The crossover is expected to further strengthen the Shinde faction’s influence in Maharashtra politics as well as within Parliament.
Aaditya Thackeray attacks defectors
Reacting strongly to the development, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray accused the six MPs of betraying the mandate given to them by voters.
He argued that the MPs had won their seats as part of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance and the INDIA bloc, benefiting from the support of Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and Nationalist Congress Party leaders during the election campaign.
According to Aaditya Thackeray, the defections undermine the trust reposed in the MPs by the electorate and raise questions about political loyalty.
The latest rebellion marks another chapter in the long-running battle between the Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde camps, a conflict that has reshaped Maharashtra’s political landscape since the Shiv Sena split in 2022.
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