Sanjay Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP for Shiv Sena (UBT), alleged that rebel party lawmakers were paid bribes and relocated to Rajasthan this Thursday [1].
The accusations highlight a deepening political crisis within the party, referred to as "Operation Tiger," which threatens the stability of the Shiv Sena (UBT) legislative bloc [1, 2].
Raut said that rebel members of parliament missed a critical parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi [1]. He said that these lawmakers were each given 10 crore rupees [1] and were shifted to Rajasthan to avoid party discipline or internal pressure [1].
However, reports regarding the attendance of the meeting are contradictory. While initial reports suggested the rebels were absent, subsequent reports stated that all nine [2] Lok Sabha MPs attended the gathering in New Delhi [2].
The internal friction comes as the party navigates a split that has seen members fluctuate in their loyalty. The clash between the leadership and the rebel faction has created a volatile environment for the party's parliamentary strategy, a situation that Raut has warned against in recent statements [2].
Despite the conflicting reports on whether the lawmakers were actually present in Delhi or relocated to Rajasthan, the allegation of financial inducement remains a central point of contention. The party continues to deal with the fallout of these accusations as it attempts to maintain a unified front in the legislature [1, 2].
“Rebel lawmakers were paid bribes and relocated to Rajasthan.”
The contradiction between the alleged disappearance of MPs to Rajasthan and their reported attendance at the Delhi meeting suggests a high level of volatility and misinformation within the Shiv Sena (UBT) internal communications. If the bribery claims are substantiated, it could lead to legal challenges or further defections, fundamentally altering the party's leverage in the Lok Sabha.
