One week after six Lok Sabha members from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena faction joined the Shiv Sena group headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, a senior legislator from the Uddhav faction was elected unopposed as Legislative Council Deputy Chairman on a Shiv Sena ticket. The move by a close associate of Aaditya Thackeray has weakened the Uddhav-led group while strengthening Shinde’s standing. The shift of rebel lawmakers has been described as Operation Tiger, allowing Shinde to solidify his role within the state’s BJP-led ruling coalition. Speculation now centers on whether additional legislators from the Uddhav faction may follow, and whether the operation aims to secure a two-thirds majority in Parliament for constitutional changes such as delimitation and simultaneous elections. Some coalition insiders view Shinde’s growing influence as a way to balance power ahead of future national and state polls. A senior BJP official noted that while central leadership approved the recent parliamentary defections, questions remain about possible shifts at the state level. The same official added that Shinde, like other leaders, is entitled to expand his base before the next elections. The development followed widely circulated images of Devendra Fadnavis traveling with Uddhav Thackeray, which sparked further political discussion. A state BJP manager indicated the operation targets numbers needed for key legislation, while its effect on Maharashtra remains under observation. One BJP legislator welcomed the addition of parliamentary members but opposed bringing in opposition assembly or council members. The ruling coalition currently holds 240 of 288 assembly seats and 62 of 78 council seats. A Shinde-aligned leader stated that the Sena chief seeks to improve relations with the BJP leadership and still eyes the chief minister’s post for 2029. Opposition figures have claimed the moves are intended to limit Fadnavis’s authority. Aaditya Thackeray described the events as an effort to weaken Fadnavis ahead of future contests. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray called the defections dirty politics that set a dangerous precedent. Relations between Fadnavis and Shinde have varied over time. During the 2014-19 period, Shinde served as a minister in the Fadnavis cabinet. In 2019, the undivided Shiv Sena partnered with Congress and NCP to form a government. In 2022, Shinde led a split that ended that administration and joined the BJP to form a new government, with Fadnavis serving as deputy.
