Inside Operation Tiger: How Eknath Shinde engineered a Shiv Sena split, again

A strategy dubbed 'Operation Tiger' was meticulously planned by Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena faction to dismantle the rival Shiv Sena (UBT) following the 2024 Maharashtra Assembly elections. Top Sena leaders revealed to Hindustan Times that the operation was activated when a delimitation bill was defeated in Parliament, presenting a strategic window.

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This is a fight between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. All MPs (from both factions) maintain a strong rapport. Shrikant Shinde cultivated the remaining MPs from the other faction over time so that they could defect.

According to individuals familiar with the developments, Eknath Shinde, the current deputy chief minister, and his son Shrikant Shinde, a Lok Sabha MP, successfully convinced the BJP leadership that they could increase their parliamentary numbers by encouraging MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) to defect. Initial overtures were made to four Lok Sabha MPs from the UBT faction: Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, and Bhausaheb Wakchaure. These MPs reportedly had a strong rapport with Union Minister of State for Health, Pratap Jadhav, facilitating the initial outreach.

The objective was to secure at least two more MPs to meet the crucial two-thirds majority threshold, which would protect defectors from disqualification under anti-defection laws. Shiv Sena (UBT) currently holds nine Lok Sabha seats. A Shiv Sena leader noted that the MPs were also burdened by a lack of party funds and felt excluded by the leadership. Sanjay Jadhav, who is reportedly seeking a Union minister portfolio, was among the first to openly express dissent, even skipping party meetings earlier this year. His absence from an April meeting led to Uddhav Thackeray removing his close aides from positions in Jadhav's constituency, Parbhani. Jadhav is also believed to have been instrumental in connecting Shinde's faction with other MPs.

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Convincing Dharashiv MP Omraje Nimbalkar was tough as he was reluctant to switch over initially. However, Nimbalkar had a strong collaborative partnership with Shinde when he was minister of urban development and public works in the MVA government led by Uddhav Thackeray between 2019 and 2022. The tie between the two broke when Shinde split up Sena and joined the NDA. But he managed to eventually win over Nimbalkar.

Shrikant Shinde played a significant role in cultivating relationships with the remaining MPs from the opposing faction over time. Convincing Dharashiv MP Omraje Nimbalkar proved challenging, as he was initially hesitant to switch. However, Nimbalkar had a strong working relationship with Eknath Shinde when Shinde served as a minister in the previous MVA government. Despite their ties being strained by Shinde's defection, he eventually persuaded Nimbalkar. Similarly, Sanjay Dina Patil, a Mumbai North East MP who had joined Shiv Sena (UBT) from Congress, was reluctant to switch. A Shiv Sena minister recounted that while no one from the UBT party visited Patil's wife in the hospital after her accident, Shinde personally visited her. These interactions, coupled with assurances that Patil's daughter, a corporator, might be made an MLA, ultimately convinced him.

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But while no one from the party turned up to see his wife Pallavi after she met with an accident recently, Shinde visited her at the hospital. Casual conversations led to several formal meetings between the two and Patil was finally convinced. Patil was also assured that his daughter Rajool – a Sena (UBT) corporator – may be made an MLA in future.