Shiv Sena-UBT chief Uddhav Thackeray will undertake a three-day tour of constituencies whose party MPs defected to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, covering key districts across Maharashtra from 27 June to 29 June. Thackeray has publicly committed to personally apologising to voters in each of these constituencies for the actions of their now-defected elected representatives.

The Defections That Triggered the Tour

The tour follows a rebellion last week by six MPs who signalled their intention to join the Shinde faction: Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv), Sanjay Patil (Mulund North East), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli), and Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi). All six were elected on Shiv Sena-UBT tickets during the 2024 general elections. The defections represent one of the most significant internal crises for the Thackeray camp since the original Shiv Sena split.

Day-by-Day Itinerary

On 27 June, Thackeray will begin in Yavatmal, where MP Arvind Sawant, MLA Sanjay Derkar, liaison chief Rajendra Gaikwad, and district chiefs Pravin Shinde, Kishor Ingale, and Sanjay Nikhade will manage preparations. He will then proceed to Washim, with coordination handled by MP Sawant, MLA Derkar, liaison chief Dilip Jadhav, and district chief Balaji Wankhede. The afternoon stop is Hingoli, led by MLC and former Leader of Opposition Ambadas Danve, liaison chief Babanrao Thorat, and district chiefs Sandesh Deshmukh, Ajay Patil, and Gopu Sawant. Thackeray will halt overnight in Parbhani.

On 28 June, the tour resumes in Parbhani city, with MLC Danve, MLA Rahul Patil, liaison chief Pradipkumar Khopde, and district chief Dr Vivek Navandar overseeing arrangements. In the afternoon, Thackeray moves to Dharashiv, managed by Danve, MLA Kailas Patil, and liaison chief Sunil Katmore. The day ends with an overnight halt at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

On the final day, 29 June, Thackeray visits the holy town of Shirdi. Rajya Sabha member and Saamana Executive Editor Sanjay Raut, liaison chief and MLC Sunil Shinde, and district chiefs Sachin Kote and Jagdish Choudhary will lead arrangements before Thackeray returns to Mumbai.

What the Party Said

According to a release issued by Sanjay Raut, the tour is strategically designed to mobilise party workers and reinforce grassroots connections across Maharashtra ahead of what party insiders describe as crucial political alignments. The structured assignment of senior leaders to each location signals an effort to project organisational discipline at a moment of visible internal strain.

Thackeray's Warning on Democracy

At the 60th foundation day of the United Shiv Sena, held last Friday, Thackeray made an emotional appeal, offering to step down as Shiv Sena-UBT president if his own leaders believed the allegations levelled by the defecting MPs. He also issued a sharp political warning: 'The BJP is moving from 'One Nation, One Election', to 'One Nation, No Election'. We will have to do Operation Lotus. The way the politics of this country is being conducted, people's faith in democracy is eroding. This is a threat to democracy. The way we are going currently, we are moving towards anarchy.'

The tour is seen as Thackeray's most direct bid yet to reclaim political ground lost to the Shinde faction, with Maharashtra's political landscape continuing to shift ahead of future electoral contests.