Uddhav Thackeray, leader of Shiv Sena (UBT), held an emergency meeting with all nine party Lok Sabha MPs to address rumors of a party split.
The meeting comes amid reports of a political maneuver known as "Operation Tiger," which allegedly aims to poach members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) to weaken the party's standing. If successful, such a maneuver could shift the balance of power in the region and disrupt the party's legislative influence.
Thackeray convened the gathering at Matoshree, the party headquarters in Mumbai. All nine [1] MPs participated in the session, though five [1] joined the proceedings virtually. The emergency nature of the meeting suggests a high level of urgency in securing party loyalty.
Reports indicate that "Operation Tiger" is a campaign led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to woo UBT leaders [2], [3]. This effort is reportedly timed to coincide with the lead-up to Maharashtra MLC polls [3]. The strategy focuses on recruiting Lok Sabha MPs to create a fracture within the UBT faction [2].
While the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership said the meeting was intended to quell speculation of a significant split [1], the external pressure from the Shinde-led faction continues to mount. The party has not released a formal statement regarding the specific outcomes of the discussion with the MPs.
This internal consolidation effort reflects the ongoing volatility of Maharashtra's political landscape, where party loyalty is frequently tested by opposing factions. By summoning the entire parliamentary delegation, Thackeray aims to project a unified front against poaching attempts.
“Uddhav Thackeray held an emergency meeting with all nine party Lok Sabha MPs.”
This meeting signals a defensive posture by the Shiv Sena (UBT) against targeted poaching efforts. The use of an emergency session at Matoshree suggests that the threat of 'Operation Tiger' is viewed as a credible risk to the party's stability. If the Shinde-led faction successfully recruits UBT MPs, it could further marginalize Thackeray's influence in the Maharashtra legislature and alter the coalition dynamics ahead of upcoming polls.
