Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar and Nagesh Ashtikar, two members of parliament from the Shiv Sena (UBT), have crossed over to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.

This shift signals growing instability within the Uddhav Thackeray camp and strengthens the position of the Shinde faction in Maharashtra. The move occurs amid reports of internal power struggles and strategic divisions within the party.

Reports indicate that two MPs [1] have already switched sides. However, other reports state that as many as six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs [2] are set to formally join the Shinde-led group. The discrepancy highlights the fluid nature of the current political realignment in the state.

Some sources said a letter has been submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in New Delhi to formalize the move [2]. Other reports contradict this, stating that two MPs did not sign a letter supporting the split and alleging that money was offered to facilitate the defection [3].

The political turmoil is linked to narratives regarding "Operation Tiger," a perceived effort to destabilize the Thackeray faction [3]. Whether the split is driven by state-level politics or a broader Delhi-based strategy remains a point of contention among observers [4].

The loss of legislative support weakens Thackeray's influence in the Lok Sabha. With the Shinde faction gaining strength, the balance of power in Maharashtra continues to shift away from the UBT wing.

“The defection marks a political setback for Uddhav Thackeray.”

The defection of these MPs underscores the fragility of the Shiv Sena (UBT) coalition. If the higher estimate of six defectors proves accurate, it would represent a significant erosion of Uddhav Thackeray's legislative leverage, potentially altering the dynamics of the state's political alliances and the party's ability to challenge the Shinde-led administration.