Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has denied reports that he launched "Operation Tiger" to poach members of the Shiv Sena (UBT) [1].
The dispute highlights the ongoing instability within Maharashtra's political landscape as factions fight for dominance ahead of the state's Legislative Council elections. If successful, such a maneuver would shift the balance of power by inducing defections from Uddhav Thackeray's camp to Shinde's faction.
Reports first surfaced on April 10, 2026 [2], alleging that Shinde was actively working to woo leaders from the UBT faction. A senior source close to the Deputy CM said to IndiaTVNews that "Operation Tiger is aimed at consolidating our position before the upcoming MLC polls" [3]. These reports suggested that the effort was designed to strengthen Shinde's position by recruiting lawmakers from the opposing side.
Further allegations indicated that eight Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs held a confidential meeting with Shinde to discuss the operation [4]. Some reports claimed these MPs traveled to Delhi to deliver a letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker as part of the process [1].
Shinde has rejected these claims. "These reports are baseless and misleading," Shinde said, denying the existence of the operation or the alleged meetings [5]. He further asked the media to avoid sensationalizing unverified information [5].
The Shiv Sena (UBT) has reacted to the reports with alarm. Sanjay Raut, a spokesperson for the party, said, "There is a concerted effort to split our party and lure our MPs" [6].
The contradiction between the accounts remains stark. While some sources report a coordinated effort to induce defections, Shinde said that no such meetings ever occurred [4, 5].
“"These reports are baseless and misleading," Shinde said.”
The conflict reflects the high stakes of the upcoming Maharashtra Legislative Council elections, where control over party numbers determines legislative influence. The discrepancy between the reported 'Operation Tiger' and Shinde's denials suggests a climate of intense psychological warfare and strategic leaks intended to destabilize the opposition's ranks before official voting begins.
