Amid reports of 'Operation Tiger' to split his party, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut dismissed defection rumors, asserting the original party is with Thackeray. He challenged rivals and announced a parliamentary meeting with a three-line whip.
Amid speculation over a split in Shiv Sena (UBT) under an alleged "Operation Tiger", party MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday asserted that the "original Shiv Sena" remains with the Thackeray family and dismissed reports of defections from the party, while announcing a meeting of the party's parliamentary wing in Delhi.
Addressing a joint press conference with party MP Arvind Sawant in Delhi, Raut said, "Since when has Shinde's Shiv Sena become the original Shiv Sena? The original Shiv Sena is here. Jahan Thackeray wahan Shiv Sena."
'Will Go to Jail Only After Teaching You a Lesson'
Responding to ANI's question on rumours of attempts to engineer defections in Shiv Sena (UBT), Raut struck a defiant tone and challenged those allegedly trying to weaken the party. "...They feel that they have done this once. I would tell them, do it and show us. Aapko nahi todenge na toh hamare baap ka naam nahi batayenge. Hamare baap ka naam Balasaheb Thackeray hai. Are you mocking democracy? Do you have so much of money? Who are you threatening with ED-CBI? Us? We have already been to jail and we are ready to go to jail again. But I will go to jail only after teaching you a lesson..." he said.
Three-Line Whip Issued for MPs' Meeting
Raut also said the party had convened a meeting of its MPs in Delhi and issued a three-line whip amid the ongoing political developments. "Lok Sabha leader of our party, Arvind Sawant has issued a whip to all our MPs that an important meeting is being held at our Parliament Office in Delhi. A few issues need to be discussed. This three-line whip has been issued. So, we will begin our meeting at 11 am today. I don't know how many MPs have reached Delhi so far. But we have a procedure in the parliamentary party/legislative party to send whip. This has been done," he said.
Raut Slams Political Landscape, Blames BJP
Meanwhile, in a post on X, Raut cited social reformer Acharya Dada Dharmadhikari and Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray while criticising the current political landscape. "Acharya Dada Dharmadhikari had said: The kingdom of money is the kingdom of a prostitute! Balasaheb Thackeray had said: Looking at today's politics, it feels like one should say that prostitutes are better! They are more honest," Raut wrote.
He further alleged that Maharashtra had been reduced to a state shaped by such politics and blamed the BJP for the situation. "(Maharashtra has been turned into a ball of dough of such a state, history will never forgive BJP) Jai Maharashtra!" he added.
'Operation Tiger' Claims Fuel Speculation
His remarks came amid reports suggesting that six out of nine Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MPs are in touch with the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and may be considering switching sides, reviving concerns of another split similar to the 2022 breakaway led by Shinde that divided the party into two factions.
Shiv Sena MLC Chandrakant Raghuvanshi has claimed today 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." (ANI)
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