New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) convened a key meeting of its Members of Parliament at the party's Parliament office in Delhi on Thursday against the backdrop of growing speculation about possible defections under the alleged "Operation Tiger" campaign.

The meeting assumed significance as reports of attempts to lure legislators and parliamentarians away from the party continued to circulate in political circles.

Senior leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut attended the gathering along with all nine Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs. Those present included Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai, Sanjay Jadhav, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar and Rajabhau Waje.

Raut draws a line on attendance

Ahead of the meeting, Sanjay Raut delivered a pointed message regarding party discipline and attendance.

Speaking to reporters, he declared that any MP attending the meeting would be considered loyal to the party, while those choosing to stay away would be viewed as dishonest and traitorous. His remarks came amid persistent rumours of efforts to engineer a split within the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.

To ensure full attendance, Shiv Sena (UBT) had earlier issued a three-line whip directing all its MPs to be present at the important meeting in Delhi.

Sawant signals confidence

When asked by journalists whether he was confident that all party MPs would turn up for the meeting, Lok Sabha MP Arvind Sawant responded with a thumbs-up gesture, signalling confidence in the unity of the parliamentary group.

The presence of all nine Lok Sabha MPs at the gathering was seen as a significant show of strength by the party leadership at a time when speculation over defections remains intense.

'Original Shiv Sena is with Thackeray', says Raut

Later, during a joint press conference with Arvind Sawant, Raut strongly rejected claims that the Eknath Shinde-led faction represented the original Shiv Sena.

He argued that the party founded by Balasaheb Thackeray remained with Uddhav Thackeray and his supporters. According to Raut, wherever the Thackeray family stands, that is where the real Shiv Sena exists.

His remarks were aimed at countering the narrative advanced by the rival faction, which has laid claim to the party's legacy following the split.

Sharp response to defection claims

Addressing reports of attempts to weaken Shiv Sena (UBT) through defections, Raut adopted a combative tone and challenged those allegedly involved in such efforts.

He suggested that while opponents believed they had successfully broken the party once before, they should attempt it again if they were confident of succeeding.

Raut invoked the legacy of party founder Balasaheb Thackeray and said Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders would not be intimidated by political pressure or investigative agencies.

He accused opponents of undermining democratic values and questioned whether money and threats involving agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation were being used as political tools.

The Rajya Sabha MP also said that party leaders had previously faced imprisonment and were prepared to do so again if necessary. However, he added that any such challenge would first be met with a political response from the party.

Meeting seen as show of unity

The high-profile gathering is being viewed as an effort by Shiv Sena (UBT) to demonstrate cohesion and resolve amid continued rumours of attempts to engineer defections.

Agency inputs