In a major political development in Maharashtra, all six rebel MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) formally joined the ruling Shiv Sena led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Mumbai on Monday, marking a significant setback for the Uddhav Thackeray camp and deepening the split within the party. The MPs joined the Shiv Sena at an event in the presence of Shinde and other senior party leaders.
This comes five days after skipping a crucial parliamentary party meeting of the Shiv Sena (UBT) in New Delhi. The meeting was attended by only three Lok Sabha MPs of the Opposition party.
Who are the rebel MPs?
The six rebel MPs, who joined the Shinde Sena, are:
- Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav (Parbhani)
- Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure (Shirdi)
- Omprakash Raje Nimbalkar (Osmanabad)
- Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East)
- Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim)
- Nagesh Bapurao Shinde Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli)
They had won against the BJP and Shiv Sena candidates in the 2024 general elections. The Shiv Sena (UBT) had won nine Lok Sabha seats in Maharashtra in 2024.
Operation Tiger now complete and successful: Eknath Shinde
Welcoming the MPs, Shinde remarked, "On the party's foundation day, I had said that the tigers would come, and now six tigers are standing with us," in a reference to the much-discussed "Operation Tiger" that had fuelled speculation over defections from the Uddhav camp.
"Committed Shiv Sainiks have joined our family. Four years ago, when we launched our revolt, 40 MLAs stood with us, and now six MPs have joined us as well. In 2022, we took that step to save the Shiv Sena. Now, a second chapter has begun. We have come together to preserve the ideology of Shiv Sena and the vision of Balasaheb Thackeray. All of these leaders are grassroots workers. They have not joined us for personal gain; they have come to work for the development of their people and their constituencies," said Shinde.
"We do not obstruct anyone's path, but if someone stands in our way, we do not let it go either. MLAs, sarpanches, MPs, and corporators have been elected by the people because our intentions were clear, and the public placed its trust in us," he added.
These MPs are Dhurandhar: Eknath Shinde
The Deputy Chief Minister hailed the induction of six rebel MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray camp, describing them as "dhurandhar" with deep roots among the people. "All these MPs are dhurandhar (seasoned leaders) and are strongly connected to the grassroots," Shinde said after the MPs formally joined the Shiv Sena led by him.
The Deputy Chief Minister took a veiled swipe at Shiv Sena UBT leader Sanjay Raut, saying, "We now have three Sanjays with us. We also have Sanjay Rathod here. When we have so many Sanjays with us, there is no need to talk about any other Sanjay — and you know whom I am referring to."
Shinde further said that the operation is now completed and all six MPs have now joined Shiv Sena. "We do not carry out operations halfway. Operation Tiger is now complete and successful. Following all due procedures, six MPs have now joined us," he added.
Also Read: Shiv Sena UBT crisis LIVE: 6 rebel MPs join Shinde-led Sena in massive jolt to Uddhav Thackeray
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