Operation Tiger - Daily Democracy Now!

Uddhav Thackeray Calls Meeting of Nashik Corporators Amid 'Operation Tiger' Defection Buzz

DN News Network — Tue, 14 Jul 2026 18:06:47 +0530

Mumbai, Jul 14

Amid speculation that the "Operation Tiger" strategy could now be replicated in the Nashik Municipal Corporation, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray has convened a meeting of the party's corporators from Nashik at his Matoshree residence on Wednesday, in an apparent bid to prevent a possible split. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has 15 corporators in the Nashik civic body.

Political circles are abuzz with claims that around 10 to 12 of them are in touch with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and could switch sides at any time. If that happens, it could significantly alter the political equations in the corporation. The development comes in the wake of the recent split in the party's Lok Sabha ranks, where six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs first formed a separate group before joining the Shinde faction.

Before that rebellion, Thackeray had called a meeting of the party MPs and issued a whip, but the six MPs skipped the meeting.

Following the parliamentary split, Thackeray held rallies and public meetings in the constituencies of the rebel MPs to retain the support of party workers and office-bearers.

He had also adopted an aggressive stand against the defectors. Political observers will now be closely watching whether Thackeray's outreach succeeds in preventing a similar rebellion among the Nashik corporators.

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What next for Uddhav Thackeray?

DN News Network — Wed, 24 Jun 2026 08:53:22 +0530

By Vibha Sharma

In politics, it can never really be an endgame. So, are the devastating developments in Shiv Sena (UBT) the end of the road for party chief Uddhav Thackeray—the son of the man who started it all six decades ago, the late Balasaheb Thackeray?

Considered an introverted politician, especially when compared to the aggressive line followed by the "original" Shiv Sena and his father, many believe that the "humble and modest" Uddhav was perhaps never really cut out for cutthroat politics. For much of his early life, he remained out of the spotlight, preferring wildlife and aerial photography over public life.

His cousin Raj Thackeray was widely seen as more of a chip off the old block, resembling Balasaheb Thackeray in temperament and political style.

Uddhav took control of the party in January 2013 after the death of his father and also inherited the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance—one of the oldest and most enduring ideological coalitions in Indian politics, spanning three decades before its collapse in 2019 over power-sharing issues between the two.

Observers say breaking up with the BJP was perhaps Uddhav's biggest mistake.

After breaking up with the BJP, he formed the Maha Vikas Aghadi government with the Congress and the NCP to become the Chief Minister of Maharashtra —a decision that reshaped Maharashtra politics and the fortunes of his party. But since the first split in 2022, when he lost the government, MLAs, and the "Bow and Arrow" party symbol to Eknath Shinde, he has been battling a perception war over who carries the Balasaheb's legacy.

Observers say more than when leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal, Narayan Rane, or Raj Thackeray left, what hurt Uddhav most was when Shinde jumped ship to become Chief Minister with the support of the BJP and, later, the breakaway faction of Sharad Pawar's NCP. Unlike earlier departures led by individual leaders, the Shinde revolt directly challenged his leadership and the party's political future.

On Monday, Shinde dealt another devastating blow, taking away six of Uddhav's nine Lok Sabha MPs. With rumblings also among Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs and no control over local bodies, especially the BMC, observers say Uddhav's uncertain future now depends on how he navigates the upcoming electoral battles with a shrinking support base.

His immediate challenge will be whether he can rally remaining supporters, reinvent the party's grassroots outreach, and show that he still holds the Thackeray legacy. "Despite losing the party name and symbol to Shinde, Uddhav and son Aaditya Thackeray still hold the Thackeray surname, which may hold some emotional value among Shiv Sena supporters," they say. There may also be a sympathy factor favouring him, but will that hold given the sharp politics of rivals BJP and Shinde? That remains to be seen.

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Uddhav Thackeray Faces Fresh Crisis as 6 MPs Join Shinde Sena; 3 MLAs Skip Key Meeting

DN News Network — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 17:16:00 +0530

Mumbai, Correspondent

Maharashtra's political landscape witnessed fresh turbulence on Sunday as six Members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (UBT) were set to formally join Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, dealing another blow to Uddhav Thackeray's camp.

The development comes amid reports of the ongoing "Operation Tiger," a political outreach initiative that has allegedly been underway for over a year to attract leaders from the Thackeray faction into the Shinde camp.

In response to the latest developments, Uddhav Thackeray convened a meeting of party MLAs at Shivalaya in Mumbai to assess the situation and prevent further defections. However, the absence of three MLAs from the meeting sparked fresh speculation about possible cracks within the party ranks.

Political circles were already abuzz over the departure of six MPs, and the absence of the legislators has intensified discussions about whether more leaders could switch sides in the coming days.

Meanwhile, hectic political activity was reported at Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's residence, where meetings with the incoming MPs were underway ahead of their formal induction into the Shiv Sena. Sources indicated that senior leaders, MPs, MLAs and local representatives are expected to be present during the joining ceremony, which is likely to be projected as a major show of strength by the Shinde camp.

Security was tightened along key routes in Mumbai amid reports that Shinde and the newly inducted MPs would travel through the area where Thackeray's meeting was being held.

The developments come close on the heels of the Nanded Local Authorities Constituency Legislative Council election, where BJP-Mahayuti candidate Amarnath Rajurkar secured a decisive victory. In a related setback for the opposition bloc, Krishna Nagesh Patil Ashtekar, son of rebel leader Nagesh Patil Ashtekar, suffered a heavy defeat in the contest.

With the Shiv Sena (UBT) already grappling with the loss of several senior leaders over the past few years, the latest defections could further complicate Thackeray's efforts to consolidate the party ahead of upcoming political battles in Maharashtra.

Politics Now : “Operation Tiger” : What Democratic Future Is Hidden Behind the Magic Number 362?

Prof. Ujjwal K Chowdhury — Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:53:40 +0530

By Prof Ujjwal K Chowdhury

The hottest phrase in Indian politics right now is “Operation Tiger.” The goal is simple: secure 362 seats in the Lok Sabha, the two-thirds majority mark. But why this number? What agenda requires such overwhelming parliamentary strength? And more importantly, will this agenda benefit India's 1.4 billion people—or harm them? That question remains unanswered.

Let's break down the debate point by point.

1. What Exactly Is “Operation Tiger”?

The game reportedly began in West Bengal. A group of Trinamool Congress MPs was allegedly being encouraged to move into a little-known outfit called the Nationalist Citizen Party of India (NCP-I).

The next battleground appeared to be Maharashtra, where sections of Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena were said to be under pressure. Sharad Pawar's camp is widely rumored to be another target.

Now the focus has shifted to Uttar Pradesh. The formula is straightforward: move MPs from larger opposition parties into smaller, friendly outfits and gradually increase the ruling coalition's numbers.

2. Who Are the Key Players in Uttar Pradesh?

Two names frequently discussed in political circles are Om Prakash Rajbhar and Sanjay Nishad. There is also speculation about possible roles for Anupriya Patel and Jayant Chaudhary.

The primary target is believed to be the Samajwadi Party (SP), currently the third-largest party in the Lok Sabha with 37 MPs. Under anti-defection laws, at least 25 MPs—two-thirds of the parliamentary party—would be needed for a split to be legally viable.

The obvious question: can that number really be achieved?

3. Why the Sudden Interest in the Samajwadi Party?

The NDA currently has around 293–300 seats. With support from parties like YSRCP and some independents, it could touch the 300 mark.

If significant support comes from Trinamool Congress MPs, the tally could move closer to 320.

Additional support from factions linked to Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar could push the number toward 335.

That still leaves a gap of roughly 27 seats before reaching the magic figure of 362. According to this theory, breaking the Samajwadi Party becomes almost essential.

4. The DMK and the Southern Puzzle

Some political observers believed that if Congress aligned with actor-politician Thalapathy Vijay's TVK, the DMK might move closer to the NDA.

That never happened.

The reason is believed to be the contentious issue of delimitation. The DMK has strongly opposed any move that could reduce southern India's parliamentary influence while increasing the weight of more populous northern states.

Thus, even if differences emerge between the DMK and Congress, that does not automatically translate into support for the BJP.

5. Why Isn't Congress the Target?

Congress has 98 MPs. Splitting the party would require about 66 MPs, an extraordinarily difficult task. Most Congress MPs are concentrated in southern India and Punjab—regions where the BJP faces stronger resistance.

The delimitation debate has also strengthened anti-BJP sentiment in parts of the South, making such a move even less realistic.

6. What Is the Going Price of Political Defections?

Political allegations have produced startling figures. In Bengal, MP Kirti Azad reportedly alleged that MPs were being offered ₹5 crore. In Maharashtra, Sanjay Raut claimed offers ranged between ₹15–20 crore, while some political insiders have suggested figures as high as ₹50 crore. In Uttar Pradesh, rumors have even touched the ₹100 crore mark.

Whether true or exaggerated, the question resonates loudly: Has democracy become a marketplace where elected representatives are commodities?

7. Why Is Breaking the Samajwadi Party So Difficult?

Unlike some other political formations, many SP leaders come from long-established socialist backgrounds and are not viewed as politically vulnerable through financial pressure alone. The party's PDA coalition—backward classes, Dalits, minorities, and allied caste groups—provides a strong grassroots base. In Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, political veterans often say: "Money follows power, not the other way around." With the 2027 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections approaching, many leaders may see greater value in preserving their political future than accepting short-term incentive

8. Why the Urgency?

Critics argue that several developments have increased pressure on the ruling establishment. Rahul Gandhi's outreach to students, particularly his criticism of what he calls a "rejection system" rather than a "selection system," has resonated with sections of the youth.

Questions around the Constitution, reservations, unemployment, and social justice are also spreading beyond traditional opposition constituencies.

History offers another lesson: even after the major delimitation exercise of the 1970s, Indira Gandhi still lost power. Simply changing electoral arithmetic does not guarantee political success.

9. The BJP's Internal Power Struggles

Political observers also point to internal calculations within the BJP. There is speculation about bringing Devendra Fadnavis into the BJP's Central Parliamentary Board. Some note that Narendra Modi entered the board in 2013 before becoming the party's prime ministerial candidate. If Fadnavis rises further, it could alter internal equations involving Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath.

Another theory suggests that if the BJP performs poorly in Uttar Pradesh, the influence of the Gujarat leadership could weaken, potentially benefiting Yogi Adityanath's future ambitions. These are, of course, political interpretations rather than established facts.

10. Final Question: Democracy or a Marketplace for Legislators?

If politics becomes a constant exercise in engineering defections, what happens to the voters who elected those representatives? If 788 MPs cannot adequately solve the country's problems, will 1,200 or even 2,000 MPs make governance better—or simply more expensive?

Critics argue that New Delhi increasingly resembles a capital driven by political ambition, ego, and strategic intrigue. Their fear is that weakening the opposition and consolidating numbers could pave the way for an early election and a longer hold on power. Whether these fears are justified or exaggerated remains a matter of political debate. But one question continues to hover over Indian democracy: Is the race to 362 about better governance—or about reshaping the political system itself?

That is a question every citizen will have to answer.

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Operation Tiger speculation gains currency as Uddhav Thackeray holds MPs' meeting

DN News Network — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 22:08:55 +0530

Mumbai, Correspondent

The talks of another split in the party led by Uddhav Thackeray were fuelled recently, especially after the rebellion within the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.

Amid speculations over a possible split in the parliamentary party of the Shiv Sena (UBT), four of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs physically attended the meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai on Sunday. The remaining five Lok Sabha MPs participated in the meeting virtually.

The Members of Parliament who were physically present at the Thackeray residence of Matoshree are Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, Sanjay Dina Patil, and Rajabhau Waje.

“It was a routine organisational meeting called by Uddhavji. He guided us on party strategy regarding the pressing issues faced by the country and the party’s action plan for the future,” said Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut.

Raut slammed the talks of ‘Operation Tiger’ (a popular term referring to alleged plans to engineer mass defections in the Sena UBT) and said that it was now time for ‘Operation Wolves’, in an apparent reference to MPs from the Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. “The media should stop speculations and instead focus on real issues,” he said, adding that a similar meeting will be held next month as well.

One of the five MPs who attended the meeting virtually was Sanjay Deshmukh, who could not travel to Mumbai owing to preparations for his daughter’s wedding. Whereas Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar is currently busy in his constituency due to the ongoing Legislative Council election campaign, wherein his son is a candidate. Among the other three MPs who attended the meeting virtually, Bhausaheb Wakchaure and Omraje Nimbalkar’s wife and son, respectively, are admitted to a hospital.

“There were reports that seven of our MPs are in touch with some other party. Four out of nine were present today. It just shows how fabricated and ridiculous those rumours were. I urge all to stop making random speculations and instead focus on real issues,” said Sena MP Anil Desai.

The talks of another split in the party led by Thackeray were fuelled recently, especially after the rebellion within the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress.

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