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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Mumbai, Correspondent

Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (Shinde) president Eknath Shinde today stated in the Maharashtra Assembly that the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena will receive more political shocks shortly. “The strong shock which they (Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena) got has disturbed his (Aaditya Thackeray's) mental balance. They will receive more such shocks very soon,” Shinde said during the monsoon session here, after Aaditya Thackeray became aggressive in the assembly alleging that ministers have not responded to his questions.

Shinde made the statement after it came to light that 3 MLAs and 1 member of Legislative Council (MLC) failed to turn up at a legislative party meeting convened by Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday.

All of them had informed Uddhav Thackeray in advance that they would not be able to attend, citing reasons like preparations for the forthcoming Legislative Council elections, ill health and personal commitments.

The legislators who did not attend the meeting were MLAs Sanjay Derkar, Rahul Patil and Sanjay Potnis, as well as MLC Sunil Shinde.

Meanwhile, according to sources, the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is already working to poach between 30 to 35 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) corporators from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
Sources said that the objective behind engineering the next phase of ‘Operation Tiger’ is to wrest the position of the Leader of Opposition post in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena. If the Shinde-led Sena plan to poach around 35 BMC corporators from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena succeeds, the BJP-led Mahayuti ruling alliance will end up enjoying undisputed domination of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

In a related development, Eknath Shinde MP Ravindra Waikar stated here today that there will be “another earthquake” in Maharashtra politics shortly.

“After ‘Operation Tiger-1’ has become a success, and ‘Operation Tiger-2’ and ‘Operation Tiger-3’ will also happen. Every issue needs to be examined from all sides. It is important to complete the work and things are progressing in the right direction. Every coin has two sides and all aspects need to be considered,” he said.

Significantly, Waikar made his statement, after similar statements by other leaders of his party on Friday (June 19).
Speaking to media persons here on Friday (June 19), Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena leader Amey Ghole had told media persons that around 25 corporators from the Uddhav Thackeray-le Sena “are in touch” with the Eknath Shinde-led Sena. “Around 25 corporators from Uddhav Thackeray's party are in touch with us. An official announcement will be after the number of these corporators reaches 40 or 45,” Ghole had said.

“There is widespread resentment among Uddhav Thackeray's BMC corporators against the party leadership; the top brass neither meets ordinary party workers nor give time to MPs and MLAs. We are not doing anything to break them away. Uddhav Thackeray's corporators themselves come to us,” Ghole had mentioned.

“They (Uddhav Thackeray's BMC corporators) say that they also need Eknath Shinde's leadership. Eknath Shinde meets everyone, talks to them and stands by them. Uddav Thackeray's corporators are very appreciative of this approach. What Uddav Thackeray's MPs did today will be followed by their MLAs and corporators tomorrow. No ‘operation’ has to be conducted for this, the outpatient department (OPD) is enough,” Ghole had stated on Friday.
Separately, Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena MLA Santosh Bangur had told media persons on Friday (June 19) that, “As many as 13 to 14 MLAs from Uddhav Thackeray's party will soon join Eknath Shinde.”

Eknath Shinde leader and Minister for Mining Shambhuraj Desai had also told media persons here on Friday that “All these MLAs are our friends. They express their feelings to us. They will also come with us.”

Shinde Sena MLA Bachchu Kadu had also confirmed it by saying, “After MPs from Uddhav Thackeray's party have come to us, even their MLAs will come to us, after them. Shinde's planning is very systematic and perfect. Eknath Shinde is keeping the legacy of Balasaheb's Shiv Sena alive.”

Speaking to media persons, Bangur had said, “Six months ago, I had said that some MPs from Uddhav Thackeray's party would join Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena. Today, it actually happened. All six UYddhav Thackeray MPs have come with us, trusting Eknath Shinde’s leadership”.

When asked if more Uddhav Thackeray-led MLAs would join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Bangar told media persons, “Just wait and see what will happen. Whatever you just said, will happen. Around 14 MLAs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena will join Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena in a few days.”

“The Shiv Sena loyal to Bal Thackeray’s ideas is the Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. Shinde is taking Maharashtra forward on the path of Hindutva,” Bangur had said.

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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.

000

Mumbai, Correspondent

Maharashtra's political landscape has heated up after six Lok Sabha MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) formally joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. Reacting strongly to the development, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC and senior leader Ambadas Danve accused the rebel MPs of "selling themselves" for political gains and rejected their claim that a lack of development funds forced them to switch sides.

Speaking to reporters at the Vidhan Bhavan complex, Danve alleged that the six MPs had abandoned the party for personal interests rather than ideology. He claimed that the explanation offered by the MPs—that joining the ruling alliance would accelerate development projects in their constituencies—was "false and misleading."

The six MPs who joined the Shinde camp are Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar and Bhausaheb Wakchaure.

Danve further alleged that an undisclosed deal had taken place between the MPs and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, adding that details of the arrangement would eventually come to light. He also accused the Shinde faction of drifting away from the party's original ideology.

Addressing concerns over the absence of three MLAs from a meeting convened by Uddhav Thackeray, Danve said another meeting of the Mahavikas Aghadi alliance had been scheduled and expressed confidence that all legislators would attend, asserting that the opposition bloc remained united.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader also commented on reports that the Shinde faction may establish a separate party office. He said the original Shiv Sena Bhavan in Dadar holds unmatched emotional and historical significance for Shiv Sainiks and that no new building could replace its legacy.