In what could lead to yet another significant political realignment in Maharashtra, reports have emerged that five Members of Parliament from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena faction are in touch with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The development has reignited speculation about the revival of ‘Operation Tiger’, a political strategy previously employed to engineer defections within the party.
According to reliable sources, these MPs are believed to be reconsidering their loyalty to the Thackeray-led faction amid growing concerns about their political future and the party’s direction following recent electoral setbacks.
The Thackeray-led Shiv Sena secured nine seats in the recent Lok Sabha elections. However, the faction has been grappling with internal discontent after facing a disappointing performance in the state assembly elections. This has reportedly left many of its leaders disillusioned and uncertain about their prospects moving forward.
The possible defection of five MPs, if it materializes, would be a major blow to Uddhav Thackeray’s leadership and could significantly strengthen Eknath Shinde’s hold within the party and in state politics.
While no official confirmation has been issued by either faction, the political buzz is growing around which five MPs might be preparing to switch allegiances. The move, insiders say, is being quietly facilitated through backchannel communications — a tactic reminiscent of earlier defections that reshaped the state's political equation.
The term ‘Operation Tiger’ was first coined during the initial split in the Shiv Sena when Shinde, along with a majority of MLAs, broke away from the Thackeray-led faction. Its revival hints at another carefully orchestrated power play to destabilize the opposition within the party.