Days after Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde executed "Operation Tiger," leading to the induction of six Members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Legislative Council member Sachin Ahir into the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, fresh political developments suggest that another round of defections could be on the horizon.
According to highly placed sources, the Shinde faction is now preparing what is being referred to as "Operation Tiger 3," with its focus on legislators and parliamentarians from both the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar faction).
Sources said a series of closed-door meetings and discussions with several senior leaders from both parties have been taking place over the past few days.
Sources within the Shinde camp claim that 10 MLAs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) have already been persuaded to switch allegiance. However, efforts are underway to secure the support of at least five more MLAs to overcome the legal and technical requirements under the anti-defection law before any formal move is made.
The sources further claimed that the Shinde faction has also established contact with another sitting Member of Parliament from the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena.
The political outreach is not limited to the Shiv Sena (UBT). Sources said several MLAs and MPs from the NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) are also on the Shinde camp's radar. Preliminary discussions have allegedly taken place, while meetings have been held with some leaders as part of the ongoing exercise.
According to the sources, the responsibility for coordinating the high-profile political operation has been entrusted to Advocate Nilesh Deshmukh, who is considered a close associate of former minister and MLA Dr Tanaji Sawant and MP Dr Shrikant Shinde.
As per sources, the operation is being finalised and could be rolled out in the coming days, potentially triggering another major political realignment in Maharashtra.
Meanwhile, similar speculation has surfaced in the Nashik Municipal Corporation. Political circles are abuzz with reports that 10 to 12 corporators from the Shiv Sena (UBT) are in touch with the Shinde faction.
As per Shiv Sena UBT leaders of Nashik, the Shinde faction hires a middleman who is calling the corporators and asking them to join the party with the offer of 5 cr. as a development fund.
Amid the speculation, corporators from the Thackeray faction are expected to assemble at the party's group leader's office to demonstrate unity and dismiss rumours of defections.
Reacting to the reports, Shinde faction group leader Ajay Boraste rejected the "Operation Tiger" narrative, saying the developments were driven by confidence in the Deputy Chief Minister's leadership rather than any organised political operation.
"This is not Operation Tiger. It is the attraction towards the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde," Boraste
said.
He further claimed that several corporators had remained in contact with ministers Uday Samant and Dada Bhuse during the Legislative Council elections and hinted that more leaders could join the Shinde-led Shiv Sena ahead of the upcoming Zilla Parishad elections.
