Mumbai: Shiv Sena UBT leader and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Sanjay Raut launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday over its rumored political strategy nicknamed Operation Tiger. Issuing a stern warning to the ruling alliance, Raut claimed that the saffron party would face unprecedented political consequences and complete dismantling if the opposition alliance returns to power in the future.
The latest political storm erupted in Maharashtra amidst intense speculation that several Lok Sabha lawmakers belonging to the Uddhav Thackeray led faction were considering a breakaway to join the rival Shiv Sena camp led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. In response to these growing rumors of potential defections, party chief Uddhav Thackeray convened an emergency review meeting of all his parliamentary representatives at Matoshree, the Thackeray family residence in Bandra, to assess organizational cohesion.
Addressing media queries about the alleged poaching attempts, Raut dismissed reports of an imminent split and declared that all elected representatives remain firmly united with Thackeray. However, his remarks turned exceptionally aggressive as he warned that the day their coalition regains authority, the BJP will not survive the political backlash. Raut further alleged that absolute power, along with central investigative agencies, is being systematically misused to break regional parties from within.
The political development has triggered significant anxiety among the party rank and file, reflecting the deep seated instability that has gripped state politics since the original party split in 2022. While some lawmakers under the scanner, including Dharashiv MP Omraje Nimbalkar, have fiercely denied any plans to switch sides, the buzz around Operation Tiger has forced the opposition camp to remain on high alert ahead of the upcoming monsoon session of Parliament.
Meanwhile, the BJP Maharashtra unit has hit back at Raut, accusing him of weakening his own organization through toxic rhetoric. Chief spokesperson Navnath Ban remarked that the decline of the Thackeray faction is a direct result of its leadership style and political dependency on the Congress party rather than any external influence.
As the state gears up for crucial legislative sessions, the aggressive war of words between the Mahayuti alliance and the Maha Vikas Aghadi camp highlights that the battle for political dominance is intensifying. Whether the rumored defections materialize or remain confined to psychological warfare, the coming days will serve as a definitive test of loyalty for the Uddhav Thackeray faction.