Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai denies 'Operation Tiger' claims of MPs joining the Shinde-led Sena, calling it media hype. This comes as a Shinde faction leader claims six UBT MPs have already expressed confidence in Eknath Shinde.
Shiv Sena (UBT) Denies Split Rumours
Amid the growing speculation that a group of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs could break to join the Shiv Sena due to an alleged 'Operation Tiger' in Maharashtra, party MP Anil Desai on Thursday asserted that the claims regarding the Operation "doesn't hold any water", but the media has blown it out of proportion.
Speaking to ANI on Operation Tiger in the national capital ahead of the party's parliamentary meeting, he said, "It doesn't hold any water, but the media has blown it out of proportion..." Maharashtra is witnessing a fresh political buzz around "Operation Tiger", with reports suggesting that seven out of nine Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MPs are in touch with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and may be considering a switch, reviving concerns of another split similar to the 2022 breakaway led by Shinde that divided the party into two factions.
He also added that the party has "rubbished the conjectures being played in the media" and no split is going to happen in future. "MPs do understand the importance of the meeting. They have attended in the past. So, it's nothing new I find. Whatever conjectures are being played in the media, we have already rubbished it. I don't think that is going to happen," he added.
Ahead of the Shiv Sena UBT parliamentary party meeting, Desai said, "It's a regular meeting of the political parliamentary party of Shiv Sena (UBT). A whip has been issued. That is a common practice; this is nothing new or out of the way." On Thursday, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) Parliamentary Party issued a whip directing all its Lok Sabha Members of Parliament to mandatorily attend a Parliamentary Party meeting scheduled for June 18 in Delhi.
He further asserted that Uddhav Thackeray is very keenly keeping his eye on the development, adding, "As the party president, he (Uddhav Thackeray) is very keenly keeping his eye on it. We are also in touch with him and other members are also in touch with him."
Shinde Faction Claims Defection
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLC Chandrakant Raghuvanshi on Thursday claimed that six MPs from Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) have expressed their confidence in Eknath Shinde and joined the Sena faction.
Raghuvanshi said, "Operation Tiger has taken place in Maharashtra. Today, six MPs expressed their confidence in Eknath Shinde and have joined Shiv Sena...It is good that they joined us. I welcome them."
He further added that if any leader wants to work for people, they should join the alliance of Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). "If we have to do a good job, then there should be some fieldwork. This was the expectation of every representative. And today, if we have to do some work in the country, then we have to go with the Shiv Sena and the BJP. Balasaheb Thackeray was in his heart. And for this, he had self-confidence that if we have to go, then no party is worthy except for Eknath Shinde. And for this, he expressed his faith in the leadership of Eknath Shinde in the Shiv Sena," he added.
However, there has been no official confirmation from the party regarding any breakaway faction. (ANI)
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