Shiv Sena factions mark foundation day amid 'Operation Tiger' buzz

Shiv Sena factions led by Eknath Shinde and Uddhav Thackeray celebrated the party's foundation day separately. The rivalry was visible in Mumbai's poster wars, amid growing speculation of 'Operation Tiger' involving defections from the UBT camp.

Maharashtra's political landscape remained abuzz on Friday as both factions of the Shiv Sena celebrated the party's foundation day separately amid heightened speculation over the alleged "Operation Tiger" and reports of possible defections from the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp.

Posters and banners put up by both the Shiv Sena, led by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and the Shiv Sena (UBT), headed by Uddhav Thackeray, dominated key locations in Mumbai, including Bandra, Kalanagar and the Matoshree area, reflecting the continuing political rivalry between the two factions that emerged following the split in 2022.

Speculation Over 'Operation Tiger'

The celebrations assume added significance this year against the backdrop of growing political chatter around "Operation Tiger", a term being used to describe the speculation that several Members of Parliament from Shiv Sena (UBT) are in touch with the Shinde-led Shiv Sena and may join the ruling alliance.

The buzz gained momentum after Shiv Sena MLC Chandrakant Raghuvanshi claimed that six MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) have expressed confidence in Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and have already aligned with his faction. However, there has been no official confirmation from the MPs concerned regarding the claims.

Background of the Shiv Sena Split

The political divide within the Shiv Sena dates back to 2022 when Eknath Shinde, along with a large number of MLAs, rebelled against Uddhav Thackeray's leadership, leading to a split in the party. The subsequent political and legal battles resulted in the Election Commission recognising the Shinde faction as the official Shiv Sena and allotting it the party's traditional 'bow and arrow' symbol, while the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction came to be known as Shiv Sena (UBT).

As both camps seek to assert their political strength and legacy on the party's foundation day, the developments surrounding the reported "Operation Tiger" are expected to keep Maharashtra politics in focus in the coming days. (ANI)

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