Operation Tiger: 7 of 9 SS(UBT) MPs willing to join Shinde camp, claims MLC
Synopsis
A Shinde-camp MLC has claimed that seven of nine SS(UBT) MPs and 16 MLAs are in active contact with the Eknath Shinde faction — a move that, if confirmed, would mark the second major rupture of the Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena in under three years. Sanjay Raut has denied it, but a fellow UBT MP's ambiguous 'I can't say about tomorrow' remark has only sharpened the intrigue.
Key Takeaways
Shiv Sena (Shinde) MLC Krupal Tumane claimed on 16 June that 7 of 9 SS(UBT) MPs are willing to join the Eknath Shinde camp.
Tumane also said 16 SS(UBT) MLAs are in contact with the Shinde faction, with discussions at an 'advanced stage'.
Sanjay Raut rejected the claims, insisting SS(UBT) is 'intact, united and strong'.
Shirdi MP Bhausaheb Wakchaure dismissed the speculation but added he 'can't say about tomorrow', fuelling further scrutiny.
A disputed Matoshree MPs' meeting — where some members reportedly joined only via virtual mode — initially sparked the latest round of defection rumours.
No formal defection has been announced; the anti-defection law remains a key legal barrier.
Political temperatures in Maharashtra surged on 16 June after Shiv Sena (Shinde camp) MLC Krupal Tumane claimed that seven of the nine MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) faction are ready to switch allegiance to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The assertion, made amid intensifying speculation over a political manoeuvre dubbed 'Operation Tiger', has rattled the Opposition and deepened uncertainty within the Thackeray camp.
What Tumane Claimed
Krupal Tumane said, 'Out of nine MPs of SS(UBT), seven are willing to work under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. They want to work according to his policies and ensure development of their constituencies.' He went further, asserting that at least seven UBT MPs and 16 MLAs are currently in contact with the Shinde faction. Tumane described the level of 'discontent and disgruntlement' within the Uddhav camp as significant, adding that discussions had reached an advanced stage and a switchover could materialise sooner rather than later.
SS(UBT) Pushes Back
Sanjay Raut, a Shiv Sena (UBT) MP and one of Uddhav Thackeray's most vocal loyalists, flatly rejected the claims, asserting that the party remains 'intact, united and strong.' Another SS(UBT) MP, Bhausaheb Wakchaure of Shirdi, dismissed the speculation as hearsay, saying, 'I am with SS(UBT). These are just speculations; they have been going on for a year. I don't know why they are going on.'
However, Wakchaure's follow-up remark — 'Today, I am standing with UBT; I can't say about tomorrow; I am not a soothsayer' — immediately drew scrutiny from political observers, who read it as leaving the door conspicuously open.
The Matoshree Meeting That Fuelled Rumours
The current wave of speculation was partly triggered by a recent meeting of Sena MPs at Matoshree, Uddhav Thackeray's private residence in Mumbai. Conflicting accounts emerged: initial reports claimed that most parliamentarians skipped the gathering, with only a handful attending in person. The party subsequently clarified that all MPs had participated, though several joined via virtual mode. Critics noted that the reliance on virtual attendance marked a clear departure from previous such conclaves, lending credence to the narrative of internal strain.
Background: A Party Already Split
The Bal Thackeray-founded Shiv Sena underwent a dramatic vertical split in 2022, when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion that toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and eventually secured recognition as the 'real' Shiv Sena from the Election Commission of India. The Thackeray faction, now operating as Shiv Sena (UBT), has since contested elections on a separate symbol. 'Operation Tiger', if it materialises, would represent the second major rupture in the party within three years, potentially redrawing the factional balance of power across Maharashtra's constituencies.
What Comes Next
No formal defection has been announced as of 16 June, and the claims remain unverified beyond Tumane's statements. The anti-defection law remains a significant legal hurdle for any individual MP seeking to switch sides without triggering disqualification proceedings. Political watchers will closely monitor whether the Shinde camp moves to formalise any crossover and how the Thackeray leadership responds to shore up its parliamentary numbers in the days ahead.
Point of View
But the arithmetic matters: if even a fraction of the alleged contacts translate into formal defections, it would critically weaken SS(UBT)'s parliamentary leverage ahead of any future floor test or coalition negotiation. What is often missed in the 'Operation Tiger' coverage is that the anti-defection law creates a structural brake — individual MPs cannot switch without risking disqualification unless they merge as a group of two-thirds or more. The real story, therefore, is not the headcount Tumane is advertising but whether the Shinde camp has the legal architecture in place to absorb defectors without triggering Speaker proceedings. Wakchaure's 'I can't say about tomorrow' line, meanwhile, is the kind of remark that veteran Sena watchers will recognise — it is not denial, it is positioning.
NationPress
1 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 'Operation Tiger' in Maharashtra politics?
'Operation Tiger' is the name circulating in political circles for an alleged effort by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction to peel away MPs and MLAs from the rival Uddhav Thackeray-led SS(UBT). No official operation has been announced; the term reflects speculation and claims made by Shinde-camp leaders.
How many SS(UBT) MPs has MLC Krupal Tumane claimed are ready to switch sides?
Tumane claimed that seven of the nine SS(UBT) MPs are willing to work under Eknath Shinde's leadership, and that at least 16 SS(UBT) MLAs are also in contact with the Shinde camp. These claims are unverified and have been denied by SS(UBT) leaders.
What has Sanjay Raut said about the defection rumours?
Sanjay Raut, a senior SS(UBT) MP and close Uddhav Thackeray loyalist, has categorically rejected the 'Operation Tiger' speculation, saying the party is 'intact, united and strong.' He has dismissed the claims as politically motivated.
Why did the Matoshree MPs' meeting spark controversy?
Initial reports suggested most SS(UBT) MPs skipped the meeting at Uddhav Thackeray's residence, with only a few attending in person. The party clarified that all MPs joined, some via virtual mode — but the shift from fully in-person attendance at previous such meetings was widely interpreted as a sign of internal strain.
Can SS(UBT) MPs legally defect to the Shinde camp?
Individual defections risk disqualification under India's anti-defection law. For a merger to be legally recognised without triggering disqualification, at least two-thirds of the faction's MPs would need to formally join the other group. As of 16 June, no formal defection move has been announced.
