Tue, June 23, 2026
Mumbai — The launch of "Operation Tiger" has triggered one of the biggest political realignments in Maharashtra since the 2022 split in the Shiv Sena, significantly boosting Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's influence while leaving the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) on the defensive.
By engineering the defection of six of the party's nine Lok Sabha MPs, Shinde has further consolidated his position within the ruling MahaYuti alliance and strengthened his claim over the political legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray.
The six MPs who joined Shinde's camp — Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar and Sanjay Dina Patil — had all won their seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by defeating candidates from the MahaYuti alliance. Their exit reduces the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction's strength in the Lok Sabha from nine MPs to just three.
The development also weakens the Uddhav Sena's long-standing political narrative that contrasted "gaddars" (traitors) with "imandaars" (loyalists). The latest defections suggest that the appeal to loyalty is gradually being overtaken by political pragmatism and changing power equations in the state.
Reacting to the development, Shinde argued that the "gaddar" narrative has repeatedly failed to influence voters. He pointed to his faction's rise since the 2022 rebellion, highlighting its growing legislative strength, organisational expansion through local body elections and improved performance in the recently concluded Legislative Council polls.
Statements made by Omraje Nimbalkar also underscored another challenge facing the Opposition. He cited the lack of development funds for constituencies represented by Opposition MPs, reinforcing the perception that leaders outside the ruling alliance face increasing difficulty in delivering projects and maintaining their political base.
For Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shinde, the successful operation offers multiple strategic advantages. With Shinde's faction now commanding 13 Lok Sabha MPs—up from seven—it has become one of Maharashtra's largest parliamentary groups, matching the Congress in strength and giving Shinde greater bargaining power within the MahaYuti alliance.
The move also strengthens Shinde's claim as the political heir to Balasaheb Thackeray's ideology, a position publicly endorsed by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a recent rally in Kolhapur.
Political observers note that Shinde's strategy has relied on carefully planned defections executed with secrecy. Carrying out "Operation Tiger" at the beginning of the state legislature's monsoon session has handed the ruling alliance a significant psychological advantage.
However, the victory also presents new challenges. Shinde will have to integrate the six MPs and their local political networks into his party organisation. In several constituencies, his existing workers had directly contested against these leaders in the 2024 elections, making reconciliation at the grassroots level a key task ahead of the 2029 polls.
While welcoming the MPs, Shinde announced that they would contest the next Lok Sabha elections on the Shiv Sena's bow-and-arrow symbol.
The government will also face pressure to deliver on promises of accelerated development in constituencies such as Dharashiv, Hingoli and Yavatmal, where the defecting MPs have cited delays in project funding.
For Uddhav Thackeray, the latest setback makes organisational rebuilding an urgent priority. Addressing party workers at a rally in Bhandup, he said the real strength of the party lies not with leaders who switch sides but with its dedicated grassroots Sainiks.
The Uddhav Sena is now expected to intensify cadre outreach while strengthening its second line of leadership, including Aaditya Thackeray, Sanjay Raut and Anil Desai. Rebuilding the organisation ahead of local body elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha polls will be central to the party's revival strategy.
While "Operation Tiger" has significantly enhanced Shinde's political standing within Maharashtra and at the national level, the long-term success of the realignment will depend on his ability to maintain unity within his expanded party. For Uddhav Thackeray, the road ahead will hinge on whether the Shiv Sena's traditional cadre remains loyal despite another major setback.
--With inputs from IANS
| 14-09-2018 | ||||||
| Sl No. | Parameters | Actual Data(µg/m3) | Standard Limit(µg/m3) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | PM 10 | 64 | 100 |
| 2 | PM 2.5 | 33 | 60 |
| 3 | SO2 | 55.3 | 80 |
| 4 | NO2 | 58.2 | 80 |
| 14-09-2018 | ||||||
| Station | Temperature(degree centigrade) | Rainfall(mm) | Relative humidity(%) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Max | Min | Past 24 hrs. | Since 1st March, 2018 | Max | Min | |
| Ranchi | 31.0 | 22.5 | 000.0 | 1010.1 | 95 | 66 |
| Jamshedpur | 34.1 | 26.2 | 000.0 | 1252.8 | 87 | 58 |
| Bokaro | 33.5 | 24.6 | 015.2 | 824.0 | 92 | 79 |
| Daltonganj | 32.6 | 24.9 | 004.2 | 960.9 | 95 | 67 |
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