Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Tuesday, 23 June issued a stark warning on the floor of the Maharashtra state Assembly, declaring that Operation Tiger — the political campaign that recently engineered the defection of six Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) — is far from finished, and that more political shocks await the Thackeray faction. The remarks have deepened anxiety within the Opposition and fuelled fresh speculation about a second wave of desertions.

Shinde's Warning on the Assembly Floor

Seizing on the charged atmosphere inside the House, Shinde launched a direct offensive against the Sena (UBT) leadership without naming individuals. 'The loud shock delivered yesterday has severely rattled their mental balance. I want to tell them — this is just the beginning. More shocks are yet to come,' he declared, signalling that Operation Tiger remains active.

Shinde also resorted to pointed sarcasm directed at the Thackeray faction: 'Now they have no real issues left to raise; they are drowning in despair. If they were present in the House today, I would have told them — look who you were, what you have become, and how foolishly you have ruined yourself.' The remarks drew sharp reactions from the Opposition benches.

Opposition Raises Ministerial Absence Concerns

The session had already turned combative before Shinde's broadside. Senior Opposition leaders Jayant Patil of the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction) and Vijay Wadettiwar of the Indian National Congress raised strong objections over the absence of top Cabinet ministers during key legislative discussions, accusing the ruling alliance of treating the legislature with contempt.

Patil questioned how public grievances could be addressed if senior ministers remained outside the House, leaving junior counterparts to handle critical matters. Wadettiwar termed the trend a serious breach of legislative tradition. Shinde responded by clarifying that junior ministers are legally empowered by the Speaker to handle specific calling-attention motions, and that both he and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis are present during major debates.

Shinde's Rebuke to Senior Opposition Leaders

Turning his attention to the veterans across the aisle, Shinde delivered a pointed rebuke: 'Jayant-Rao, Vijay-bhau, Nana-bhau — you are senior, seasoned politicians. It is unfortunate that you have chosen to follow the lead of inexperienced children. Focus on raising farmers' issues instead of indulging in mere political stunts.'

He dismissed Opposition allegations that the government was neglecting farmers or stalling development funds, asserting that the electorate had already rendered its verdict in recent polls. 'Their political space is shrinking by the day. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones at others,' he said.

Aaditya Thackeray Hits Back

The political sparring spilled outside the Assembly, with Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray taking aim at Shinde's record of legislative attendance. 'The Deputy Chief Minister is highly skilled at running midnight operations to split parties, but he lacks the discipline to sit through formal proceedings in the House,' Aaditya countered, in a reference to the late-night political manoeuvres that have characterised Shinde's recent moves.

What This Means for Maharashtra Politics

The defection of six Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs — framed by Shinde as Operation Tiger — represents one of the most significant blows to the Thackeray camp since the original party split in 2022. If a second wave materialises, it could further erode the UBT's legislative strength and complicate its position ahead of future electoral contests. The ruling Mahayuti alliance, comprising Shinde's Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the NCP faction led by Ajit Pawar, appears emboldened by its recent electoral performance. All eyes are now on whether the warned 'shocks' translate into further defections in the days ahead.