Shiv Sena Ministers Make Conflicting Claims on MLA Defections; Uddhav Thackeray Tours Constituencies

MUMBAI: Two days after an MVA meeting addressed by Shiv Sena (UBT) president saw only 37 of the 60 opposition legislators turn up, Shiv Sena minister Gulabrao Patil on Friday said Operation Tiger 3.0 had begun and that 14 Shiv Sena (UBT) MLAs would soon join deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde’s party. Patil was contradicted about the operation claim by another Shiv Sena minister, Uday Samant, who said in Nagpur that no such operation was under way, though he did say that several MLAs from the MVA were of their own accord interested in joining the Shiv Sena. Thackeray, who saw six of his MPs cross over to the Shiv Sena a few days ago, has begun a tour of the constituencies of the six Lok Sabha members who rebelled. He flew to Nagpur on Friday — incidentally, on the same plane as CM Devendra Fadnavis — and, in a reassuring signal for him, all four Vidarbha MLAs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) confirmed they would be present at his public rally on Saturday in Yavatmal and Washim. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has 20 MLAs and the two-third mark to initiate a split is 14. Of the 20 MLAs, 10 are from the city, including Uddhav’s son, Aaditya, and nephew, Varun Sardesai. Shiv Sena functionaries dismissed Thackeray’s tour as a belated outreach, accusing him of ignoring these constituencies during local body elections, when party workers were left to fend for themselves. “Wait for some time, more than 14 MLAs will come to him (Shinde). Eknath Shinde does not speak, he only moves his hands on his beard, this has been admitted by Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aaditya Thackeray himself. When Eknath Shinde moves his hands on his beard, then Operation Tiger is a success,” Patil said. There was also speculation that Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar will join the Shiv Sena, and Samant said it would be a “happy moment” if Wadettiwar did so. This triggered a sharp response from Wadettiwar, who called the speculation “politics of defamation” and reaffirmed his loyalty to the Congress. “Vijay Wadettiwar is our very good friend. He is also a close friend of Eknath Shinde Saheb. Vijay Wadettiwar never discussed party joining with us. But if a powerful leader from Vidarbha like Vijay Wadettiwar decides to work with Eknath Shinde Saheb, I will be the happiest,” Samant said. “If the MLAs of the MVA themselves wish that we should accept the leadership of Eknath Shinde Saheb, then why should we reject it? If they are going to join the party, then why should we tell them not to come?” Samant said. Samant also defended party-switching as a constitutional right, referring to the rebellion led by Shinde in 2022. “Four-and-a-half years ago, we went through the same phase. Those who accepted Shinde’s leadership were abused, threatened and targeted. But changing political ideology or party is a right granted by the Constitution of India,” he said. In response, Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs said the MPs who had joined Shinde had been bought for Rs 50 crore to Rs 60 crore each.