Operation Tiger: Is Uddhav Thackeray Facing a Fresh Exodus in Delhi?

As Parliament gears up for a new session, murmurs of an impending split within the Shiv Sena (UBT) suggest the NDA is tightening its grip on regional power structures.

The corridors of power in Delhi are buzzing with talk of 'Operation Tiger', a strategic maneuver that could leave the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) reeling in the Lok Sabha. Behind the scenes, reports indicate that several Members of Parliament from the Thackeray camp are gravitating toward the Eknath Shinde-led faction. The stakes are high: to circumvent the anti-defection law, the rebels need the support of at least six out of the nine MPs—a two-thirds majority—to formalize their switch without facing disqualification.

The tension became palpable after a recent emergency meeting at 'Matoshree' saw only four MPs show up in person. While the party’s firebrand leader Sanjay Raut has dismissed these reports as "mind games" by the opposition, the absence of five MPs has fueled widespread speculation. According to insiders, a pivotal meeting is slated at the residence of MP Shrikant Shinde, son of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, where the rebel lawmakers may finalize their plans to approach Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to seek recognition as a separate group.

The Strategy Behind the Shift

This isn't just about local politics; it’s part of a broader NDA strategy to consolidate strength in Parliament. By quietly peeling away support from regional players, the BJP leadership is effectively expanding its footprint without directly engaging in hostile takeovers. The endgame, as per emerging reports, involves these rebel MPs forming a separate bloc in the Lok Sabha before potentially merging with the Shinde faction on June 19, which marks the official Shiv Sena foundation day.

Sanjay Raut remains defiant, labeling the entire narrative a fabrication. He insists that those absent from the Matoshree meeting were held back by personal or medical reasons and attended virtually. To counter the encroaching pressure, Raut has even threatened to launch 'Operation Wolf,' promising a fierce political response to what he describes as an orchestrated campaign to destabilize Uddhav Thackeray.

Why It Matters

The bigger picture here is the relentless drive by the NDA to ensure a seamless majority in the lower house. Following successful maneuvers in West Bengal, where the ruling TMC saw internal fissures, the spotlight has turned firmly toward Maharashtra. If the Shinde camp manages to secure the necessary two-thirds support, it will represent more than just a change of loyalty; it will mark the near-total erosion of the original Shiv Sena’s parliamentary presence under the Thackeray banner. For the NDA, this is a calculated move to secure legislative dominance, while for the Thackeray faction, it is a desperate fight to keep the remnants of their political legacy intact.