Shiv Sena MP slams Uddhav over Fadnavis flight: 'Changing colours like chameleon'
Synopsis
A commercial flight from Mumbai to Nagpur became Maharashtra's most-talked-about political moment this week — with Uddhav Thackeray and CM Devendra Fadnavis seated side by side. Rival Shiv Sena MP Jyoti Waghmare called it proof of Thackeray's 'chameleon' politics, while Thackeray himself hinted at a 'high-level discussion' whose details are yet to emerge.
Key Takeaways
Shiv Sena MP Jyoti Waghmare accused Uddhav Thackeray of political inconsistency on 27 June after he shared a flight with CM Devendra Fadnavis .
Uddhav Thackeray , along with Aaditya Thackeray , Sanjay Raut , and Anil Desai , flew from Mumbai to Nagpur on the same commercial aircraft as Fadnavis on 26 June .
Waghmare claimed six MPs from Shiv Sena-UBT had defected to Eknath Shinde's camp under 'Operation Tiger 2.0'.
Uddhav Thackeray told reporters in Yavatmal that a 'high-level discussion' took place on the flight, with details to follow.
The episode deepens factional tensions stemming from the 2022 Shiv Sena split .
Shiv Sena MP Jyoti Waghmare on Saturday, 27 June launched a sharp attack on Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of political inconsistency after he was seen sharing a commercial flight with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis the previous day. The incident has reignited factional tensions within Maharashtra's fractured Shiv Sena landscape.
The Flight That Sparked the Controversy
On Friday, 26 June, Uddhav Thackeray — accompanied by senior Shiv Sena-UBT leaders including Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, and Anil Desai — travelled from Mumbai to Nagpur on the same commercial aircraft as CM Fadnavis. Photographs of the two leaders seated together circulated widely, drawing immediate political reaction from the rival Shiv Sena faction.
Waghmare's Broadside Against Uddhav
Reacting to the images, Jyoti Waghmare questioned the credibility of Uddhav Thackeray's long-running opposition to Fadnavis. 'What really surprises me is Uddhav Thackeray... just a few days ago, what kind of abusive language were you using against Devendra Fadnavis ji? Weren't you saying, ‘Either you will remain, or I will’? Then how did you end up sitting with him on the same flight?' she said.
Waghmare further recalled that Thackeray had previously referred to Fadnavis using terms such as 'stain' and 'Afzal Khan's Army'. 'So, are you going to keep changing your colours like a chameleon just for the sake of politics? In fact, looking at how often these people change their colours, even a chameleon would feel like committing suicide,' she added.
Operation Tiger 2.0 and the Defection Narrative
Waghmare also used the occasion to highlight what she described as the success of 'Operation Tiger 2.0', claiming that six MPs from Shiv Sena-UBT had left Uddhav Thackeray and aligned with Eknath Shinde. She further alleged that Shiv Sena-UBT MLAs had stopped attending party meetings, pointing to a deepening organisational crisis within the faction.
'Now it's time for Shiv Sena-UBT to reflect. They need to introspect and ask themselves why people are leaving them,' Waghmare said. She also accused the faction of prioritising the political career of Aaditya Thackeray over the welfare of party workers and the public, calling it a symptom of 'dynastic politics'.
Uddhav Hints at High-Level Talks
Addressing the media during a tour of Yavatmal on Saturday, Uddhav Thackeray chose not to deflect the episode, instead suggesting that the flight encounter carried political significance. 'We had a high-level discussion with the Chief Minister on the flight,' he said, adding that 'the full report of yesterday's meeting and whatever has been decided will become clear in the coming days.'
The deliberately cryptic remarks have set off considerable speculation about the nature of the conversation and whether any political realignment or policy understanding is in the works between the two leaders. Thackeray reiterated that details of the 'high-level discussion' would emerge soon, without elaborating further.
Political Context
The episode comes amid an already volatile period in Maharashtra politics. The Shiv Sena split in 2022 — when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, eventually toppling his government — has left both factions in a prolonged battle for legitimacy, voter base, and elected representatives. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising BJP, Shinde's Shiv Sena, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction led by Ajit Pawar, currently governs the state. Reports of further defections from Shiv Sena-UBT have been a recurring feature of Maharashtra's political calendar since the split.
Point of View
Not a slip. In Maharashtra's current political arithmetic, any ambiguity about UBT's opposition posture is ammunition for rivals claiming the faction is hollowing out. Waghmare's 'chameleon' attack is effective precisely because it feeds an existing narrative of organisational decline: six MPs gone, MLAs skipping meetings, and now the party chief sharing legroom with the man he once called a 'stain'. The real question is whether Thackeray is repositioning or simply managing optics — and whether his base, already rattled by the 2022 split, can tell the difference.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Shiv Sena MP Jyoti Waghmare criticise Uddhav Thackeray?
Waghmare criticised Uddhav Thackeray after photographs emerged of him seated alongside Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis on a commercial flight from Mumbai to Nagpur on 26 June. She argued that Thackeray's past harsh rhetoric against Fadnavis made the shared flight politically contradictory.
What did Uddhav Thackeray say about the flight with CM Fadnavis?
Thackeray told reporters in Yavatmal on 27 June that a 'high-level discussion' took place with the Chief Minister during the flight, and that details of what was decided would become clear in the coming days. He did not elaborate on the substance of the conversation.
What is 'Operation Tiger 2.0' that Waghmare referred to?
Waghmare described 'Operation Tiger 2.0' as a political effort that has resulted in six MPs from Shiv Sena-UBT leaving Uddhav Thackeray and joining Eknath Shinde's camp. She also alleged that Shiv Sena-UBT MLAs had stopped attending party meetings.
Who accompanied Uddhav Thackeray on the flight to Nagpur?
Uddhav Thackeray was accompanied by senior Shiv Sena-UBT leaders Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut, and Anil Desai on the Mumbai-to-Nagpur commercial flight on 26 June.
What is the background to the Shiv Sena factional conflict?
The Shiv Sena split in 2022 when Eknath Shinde led a rebellion against Uddhav Thackeray, bringing down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Since then, both factions have been locked in a contest for the party's name, symbol, and elected representatives, with defections from the UBT side reported repeatedly.
