Six rebel Members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (UBT) officially joined Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena on June 22, marking the culmination of what Shinde described as the successful execution of “Operation Tiger.”
Announcing the decision, Shinde said, “Whatever we do, we do it in a foolproof manner,” while declaring the operation a success. He further expressed confidence that all six MPs would contest future elections on the party’s bow-and-arrow symbol and return to Parliament.
The MPs who switched allegiance cited the lack of development funds and difficulties in carrying out constituency work while being in the opposition as key reasons behind their decision. However, data related to the Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme (MPLADS) has raised questions about these claims.
Under the MPLADS scheme, MPs receive funds for developmental works such as roads, public health infrastructure, drinking water projects, education, and sanitation facilities. While the rebel MPs claimed that inadequate funding hindered development in their constituencies, official records indicate that substantial funds had been sanctioned to them, but a significant portion remained unutilised.
MPLADS Fund Utilisation of the Six Rebel MPs
Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi MP)
Total funds sanctioned: ₹14.70 crore
Funds utilised: ₹71 lakh
Works completed: 2 out of 135 projects
Unspent funds: ₹13.98 crore
Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani MP)
Total funds sanctioned: ₹14.70 crore
Funds utilised: ₹3.78 crore
Works completed: 25 out of 56 projects
Unspent funds: ₹10.91 crore
Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli MP)
Total funds sanctioned: ₹19.02 crore
Funds utilised: ₹5.02 crore
Works completed: 28 out of 79 projects
Unspent funds: ₹13.95 crore
Sanjay Deshmukh (Washim MP)
Total funds sanctioned: ₹18.60 crore
Funds utilised: ₹1.41 crore
Works completed: 7 out of 106 projects
Unspent funds: ₹17.14 crore
Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv MP)
Total funds sanctioned: ₹18.47 crore
Funds utilised: ₹1.97 crore
Works completed: 21 out of 130 projects
Unspent funds: ₹16.49 crore
Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North-East MP)
Total funds sanctioned: ₹14.70 crore
Funds utilised: ₹15.59 lakh
Works completed: 0 out of 40 projects
Unspent funds: ₹14.54 crore
However, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that the MPs who left the party did not join for development work, but to secure funds through contractors. He claimed that they had not even properly utilized the funds they had already received for the benefit of the people.
