Uddhav Thackeray Calls Meeting Amid Defection Speculation

Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde

MUMBAI: Amid speculation that a section of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs may defect to Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, party chief Uddhav Thackeray has called a meeting of all Sena (UBT) MLAs and MLCs on June 22, the first day of the monsoon session of the state legislature. Uddhav had convened a meeting of all Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs on Sunday. Of the party's nine MPs, four attended in person while the remaining five joined virtually. The legislators' meeting will be held at Shivalay, the party office at Nariman Point, where Uddhav is expected to address party legislators. "A meeting of all members of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council belonging to the Shiv Sena (UBT) Legislative Party has been organised at Shivalay on June 22 at 4pm. The meeting will be guided by party chief Uddhav Thackeray. All members are requested to attend on time," said a party circular signed by chief whip Sunil Prabhu and MLC Anil Parab. Meanwhile, Shinde Sena MLC Krupal Tumane claimed discussions with seven Sena (UBT) MPs under "Operation Tiger" had reached the final stage. "Just as a patient undergoes tests before an operation, the process is almost complete. Only the date remains to be fixed. This will happen before the monsoon session. It is not appropriate for us to reveal all details, but it is almost certain that they will join us. These discussions have been going on for a month and are now in the final stage," Tumane said. Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, however, dismissed the claims. "Who is Krupal Tumane? There is no such person in Maharashtra politics. People in the Shinde faction make all kinds of claims. Who is going to split the party? For the past 12 years, the BJP's only job has been to break political parties. They have now split the TMC; before that, they did the same with the NCP and Shiv Sena," Raut said. Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde declined to comment on speculation that Sena (UBT) MPs or MLAs may break away and join his faction. A day after Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim) skipped Uddhav Thackeray's in-person meeting and joined it virtually, he met Union minister Prataprao Jadhav of the Shinde Sena in Delhi on Monday. The meeting fuelled fresh speculation about a possible defection by Sena (UBT) MPs and triggered a buzz within party circles. Prataprao Jadhav, however, said Deshmukh had met him regarding personal work related to an educational institution in their region and that the meeting had nothing to do with any split or defection. The meeting drew attention because Deshmukh was unable to travel to Mumbai for Uddhav's meeting on Sunday but met a Shinde Sena minister in Delhi the following day. Raut, however, maintained that all nine Sena (UBT) MPs were in touch with the party and firmly behind Uddhav Thackeray. Shinde Sena minister of state Ashish Jaiswal said details of "Operation Tiger", aimed at bringing Sena (UBT) legislators into the ruling faction, would be revealed at the appropriate time, drawing parallels with the June 20, 2022 split in the undivided Shiv Sena.