Six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha members have aligned with the Eknath Shinde-led faction in a maneuver called “Operation Tiger” [1].
This realignment shifts the balance of power within Maharashtra's political landscape. By moving toward the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance, these lawmakers aim to strengthen the Shinde faction before the upcoming Parliament Monsoon Session.
The MPs submitted a formal letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in New Delhi. The document requests that the lawmakers be recognized as a separate group to bypass anti-defection constraints [2], [3]. The move is part of a broader effort to consolidate the Shinde camp's influence in the lower house.
Reports on the exact number of defectors vary. Some sources said six MPs have already joined the camp [1], while other reports suggest seven lawmakers are in the final stages of switching [4].
Other political figures were involved in the coordination of the move. Shiv Sena leader Krupal Tumane and MLC Chandrakant Raghuvanshi were cited alongside Eknath Shinde in the realignment efforts [5].
Despite the push for a mass defection, the operation may face internal hurdles. Reports said that two UBT lawmakers did not sign the split letter [6]. This absence could potentially derail the faction's plans to secure a larger block of support in the Lok Sabha.
The timing of the submission in July 2024 was intended to ensure the new alignment was recognized before the start of the legislative session [7].
“Six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha members have aligned with the Eknath Shinde-led faction in a maneuver called “Operation Tiger.””
Operation Tiger represents a strategic attempt to weaken Uddhav Thackeray's influence by peeling away his parliamentary support. If the Lok Sabha speaker recognizes the group as a separate entity, it allows the MPs to avoid disqualification under anti-defection laws. However, the discrepancy in the number of signatories suggests that the Shinde faction has not achieved total consensus among the UBT lawmakers, leaving the final outcome of the maneuver uncertain.
