As many as 16 MLAs and six MPs are reportedly contemplating joining the opposing Shiv Sena faction led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Speculation has grown over the last few days following reports that five of Shiv Sena (UBT)’s nine Lok Sabha MPs have been in contact with leaders from the Shinde camp.
In a recent gathering convened by Uddhav Thackeray at Matoshree, only 4 out of 9 Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs were present in person. The other 5 MPs did not attend physically, although the party stated they participated online.
Additionally, one of the MPs, Sanjay Deshmukh, who did not attend the meeting, met Union Minister and Shiv Sena leader Prataprao Jadhav in Delhi. This encounter heightened suspicions regarding potential political shifts.
Following the meeting, Prataprao Jadhav asserted that some Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are discontented with the party leadership and feel more aligned with Eknath Shinde’s guidance. He mentioned that since the Shiv Sena name and symbol now belong to the Shinde faction, some MPs may prefer to associate with what they term the “real Shiv Sena.”
This potential move is being associated with what political circles are calling ‘Operation Tiger,’ a term used in Maharashtra politics for an alleged strategy in which the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena group is apparently attempting to lure leaders from Uddhav Thackeray’s camp.
Earlier this month, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut suggested that leaders who had allied with Eknath Shinde during the 2022 split and now regret their choices should return to Uddhav Thackeray’s party. He stated that anyone feeling misled is welcome back to Shiv Sena (UBT).
“If anyone regrets the mistake…[because of] the way the BJP is disrespecting them, if anyone believes they have made a wrong decision or were misguided, they should return to the party led by Uddhav Thackeray,” he remarked.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
First Published: Jun 16, 2026 3:43 PM IST
