Congress on Monday, 22 June condemned the political manoeuvre known as 'Operation Tiger' in Maharashtra, alleging that using intimidation, coercion, or investigative agencies to pressure elected representatives into switching parties is unconstitutional. The remarks came a day after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde declared the operation a success.

Congress Calls It a Constitutional Violation

Congress MLC Bhai Jagtap said, 'Our constitutional and democratic system is founded on elections, which are a crucial pillar of democracy. If elected representatives are being pressured through intimidation, coercion, muscle power, or through agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to change sides, then such actions are unconstitutional.'

Congress leader Pawan Khera took a sharper swipe, saying, 'The number of tigers is already decreasing. Give it some time and see how their numbers fall further. Those who consider themselves ‘tigers’ should wait and watch what happens next.'

Samajwadi Party Demands New Anti-Defection Law

Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi echoed the opposition's concerns, arguing that elected representatives owe their mandate to voters — not to political operators. 'The public elects representatives through voting. Changing parties after being elected is a great injustice to voters. A new law should be enacted to address this issue,' Azmi said.

Notably, anti-defection provisions under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution have long been contested terrain in Maharashtra, where successive splits in the Shiv Sena and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) have tested the law's limits.

BJP Defends the Defections as Democratic Choice

BJP Rajya Sabha MP Gulam Ali Khatana rejected the criticism, arguing that representatives are entitled to make independent decisions. 'There is democracy in the country. People take decisions in the interest of the nation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP work for national interest. Representatives make their own decisions based on what they believe will contribute to development,' Khatana said.

Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Set to Cross Over

The political fallout was immediate. Six rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs were set to officially join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on Monday afternoon, dealing another significant blow to Uddhav Thackeray's faction. Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik confirmed the development earlier in the day, stating the MPs would join the ruling camp at 3 p.m., lifting the party's Lok Sabha strength from seven to 13 members.

This comes amid a broader pattern of political realignment in Maharashtra that has seen both the Shiv Sena and the NCP fragment along loyalty lines since 2022. The Opposition's constitutional challenge to these moves has so far found limited traction in the courts.

What Happens Next

With the ruling coalition in Maharashtra consolidating its parliamentary numbers, the opposition faces mounting pressure to prevent further defections. Whether the six MPs' formal induction triggers a fresh legal challenge under the anti-defection law remains to be seen. All eyes are now on Uddhav Thackeray's next move and the Election Commission of India's ongoing adjudication of the Shiv Sena symbol dispute.