Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant arrived at the New Delhi residence of Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday [1].
The meeting occurs as the party faces allegations of a potential split and attempts to lure members away through a plan referred to as “Operation Tiger” [1, 2].
Sawant and Raut met to coordinate a response to the growing narrative of rebellion within the party ranks [2]. The discussions focused on reports that some members were being targeted for defection [3].
Raut addressed the rumors regarding members leaving the party. "If anyone wants to go, resign first," Raut said [3].
In a related move to address the instability, three Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs, including Sanjay Raut, Anil Desai, and Arvind Sawant, met with Speaker Om Birla to submit a letter [4]. The submission follows the buzz surrounding potential defections and the perceived threat to the party's current composition [4].
The gathering in New Delhi serves as a strategic effort to maintain unity as the party navigates internal pressures and external lures [1, 2].
“"If anyone wants to go, resign first"”
The urgency of these high-level meetings and the formal letter submitted to the Speaker suggest that Shiv Sena (UBT) is attempting to preemptively block a coordinated defection effort. By publicly demanding resignations before departures, the party leadership is trying to increase the political cost of switching sides and signal stability to its base.
