Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is leading a political campaign to induce defections from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) camp.
The initiative, dubbed Operation Tiger 2.0, threatens to further destabilize the opposition's hold on the region. If successful, the move would significantly diminish the legislative strength of the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction and consolidate power for Shinde.
Reports indicate that six MPs [1] are potentially preparing to file a split before Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in New Delhi. This effort follows a period of tension between the rival factions that has persisted since the original party split four years ago [2]. The movement involves coordinated efforts by Eknath Shinde and his brother, Shrikant Shinde, to recruit lawmakers from the Thackeray camp.
Party insiders said the drive to weaken the Shiv Sena (UBT) may be fueled by monetary incentives. The campaign aims to create a wave of defections that would leave Uddhav Thackeray with a depleted parliamentary presence.
While the Shiv Sena (UBT) has not officially confirmed the number of defectors, the potential loss of six members [1] would mark a critical blow to the party's organizational structure. The strategy mirrors previous political maneuvers in Maharashtra designed to shift the balance of power within the state's complex coalition environment.
The focus on the Lok Sabha Speaker suggests a formal legal attempt to recognize the split, which would allow the defecting MPs to avoid disqualification under anti-defection laws. This tactical approach is central to the current political turbulence facing the Thackeray camp.
“Operation Tiger 2.0 is a political campaign aimed at inducing defections from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) camp.”
The potential defection of six MPs would signal a second major collapse of the original Shiv Sena structure, effectively neutralizing Uddhav Thackeray's influence in the Lok Sabha. By targeting the parliamentary wing, the Shinde faction seeks to ensure that the Thackeray camp lacks the legislative numbers to challenge the current government's mandate, further cementing the dominance of the Shinde-led alliance in Maharashtra.
