Shinde Camp Invites Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Amid Defection Rumors

Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav has publicly invited Shiv Sena (UBT) lawmakers to join Eknath Shinde’s faction, fueling rumors of a new wave of defections.

This development threatens the stability of the Shiv Sena (UBT) party and could shift the political balance in Maharashtra. The effort to engineer a split has been dubbed "Operation Tiger" by observers and political insiders.

In response to the mounting pressure, Uddhav Thackeray convened an emergency meeting with his party's members of parliament on June 14, 2026 ^[4]. The gathering took place at the Matoshri residence in Bandra East, Mumbai.

Reports on the attendance of that meeting vary. One source said that five MPs skipped the key meeting ^[1]. However, another report indicated that all nine MPs attended, with five joining virtually due to valid reasons ^[2].

Parallel to the events in Mumbai, reports surfaced of secret diplomatic maneuvers in the capital. Eknath Shinde reportedly held a private meeting in Delhi with seven MPs from the Uddhav camp ^[3]. These simultaneous meetings in Mumbai and Delhi suggest a coordinated effort to weaken the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership.

Prataprao Jadhav said that the invitation to join the Shinde faction remains open. This public outreach follows a period of rising political tension across Maharashtra, where both factions of the split party continue to vie for legitimacy, and legislative strength.

While the Shiv Sena (UBT) has attempted to project unity through its emergency summit, the reported meetings in Delhi indicate that the Shinde camp is actively pursuing a strategy to peel away key lawmakers. The outcome of these maneuvers will likely determine the party's influence in the coming legislative sessions.