Six members of parliament from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction of Shiv Sena joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena this week [1].
The mass defection significantly weakens the UBT faction's presence in the Lok Sabha and consolidates power for Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in Maharashtra.
Shinde described the movement as "Operation Tiger," framing the transition as a necessary step to preserve the ideology of Balasaheb Thackeray [2, 4]. The shift began on June 21, 2026, when Dharashiv MP Omraje Nimbalkar announced his intention to switch sides [5].
"Operation Tiger now complete and successful," Shinde said after the six MPs formally joined his party [4].
Nimbalkar cited the need for regional growth as a primary motivator for the move. "We need to align with the ruling dispensation for the region's development," Nimbalkar said [5].
Reports indicate that the UBT faction had previously summoned all nine of its Lok Sabha MPs to a meeting [6]. However, six of those members ultimately broke away to join Shinde's camp [1].
To ensure their safety during the political transition, the six rebel MPs were granted Y-Plus security [1].
Shinde maintained that the move was a victory for the party's foundational values. "Balasaheb’s ideology is saved again," Shinde said [4].
“"Operation Tiger now complete and successful,"”
This shift represents a critical blow to the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction, stripping it of a majority of its parliamentary representation in the Lok Sabha. By absorbing these MPs, Eknath Shinde not only strengthens his legislative leverage but also reinforces his claim as the legitimate successor to the original Shiv Sena ideology, further isolating the UBT camp in Maharashtra's volatile political landscape.
