The political tremors witnessed in West Bengal’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) now appear to be resonating in Maharashtra, as speculation surrounding the alleged “Operation Tiger” gains momentum.
According to sources, the operation, which has been the subject of discussion for the past few months, is believed to have reached its final stage.
Sources stated that seven Members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction may soon leave the party and form a separate group after submitting a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in the coming days.
A few months ago, reports had claimed that meetings had taken place between Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and certain Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs in Thane regarding their possible entry into the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.
However, for the first time, Shinde publicly dismissed these reports, stating that no such meeting had ever taken place. Political observers interpreted his decision to break his silence on the issue as a possible indication of significant developments ahead.
The speculation intensified following developments involving MPs from the Trinamool Congress, who left TMC, Mamata Banerjee, formed a separate group in Parliament, and later joined the Nationalist Congress Party of India(NCPI)
Amid growing rumours of defections, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray convened a meeting at his residence, Matoshree, on Sunday and called upon all party MPs to attend.
However, sources claimed that only four MPs were physically present at the meeting.
Until Tuesday, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Sanjay Raut and Aaditya Thackeray maintained that all MPs remained in contact with the leadership, with some participating in discussions through video conferencing.
However, late on Tuesday night, Sanjay Raut left for Delhi to hold discussions with those believed to be contemplating their exit from the party.
In another development that added fuel to the speculation, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde left for Delhi on Tuesday night after completing his official engagements at his residence. Notably, he travelled without his usual convoy, a move that triggered fresh political buzz over the alleged Operation Tiger.
Earlier, when journalists questioned Shinde about Operation Tiger during a Cabinet meeting, he declined to comment on the matter.
Meanwhile, Sanjay Raut, in a post on X, tagged Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and wrote: “Apna Sapna Money Money! It’s shocking and revolting that Maharashtra MPs are reportedly being offered ₹15 crore each tonight to switch sides.”
The alleged attempts at engineering defections have drawn comparisons with political developments witnessed in parties such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC). With similar speculation now emerging in Maharashtra, the state could be heading towards another major episode of political realignment, potentially reshaping its political landscape and strengthening the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
