New Delhi: In a significant political development in Maharashtra, six Lok Sabha MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) formally joined the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, providing a major boost to his faction and further weakening Uddhav Thackeray’s camp.
Welcoming the MPs at a public event on Monday, Shinde described the move as the successful completion of “Operation Tiger” and termed it the next phase of the political realignment that began with the 2022 rebellion, which led to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government.
Speaking alongside the newly inducted MPs, Shinde celebrated the addition of what he called six “tigers” to his party. He also highlighted that three of the MPs share the first name Sanjay, jokingly referring to the development as “triple Sanjay power.” Shinde reiterated that his faction remains committed to the Hindutva ideology associated with Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
The six MPs who crossed over are Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar and Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar. Their move is particularly significant because it gives the group the required two thirds strength needed for a valid merger under parliamentary rules.
Signs of the shift first emerged when the six MPs skipped a parliamentary party meeting convened by the Thackeray faction in New Delhi earlier this month. Their absence fuelled speculation about an impending split, which was confirmed over the weekend when some of the MPs publicly announced their decision.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has initiated disciplinary action against the rebel lawmakers, while Uddhav Thackeray has maintained that he remains determined to lead his faction despite the setback.
The latest defections represent another major challenge for the Thackeray camp and further consolidate Shinde’s position within Maharashtra politics as the battle for the Shiv Sena legacy continues.
