New Delhi/Mumbai: Rumours of a fresh rebellion within Shiv Sena (UBT) gathered momentum on Wednesday after reports suggested that several MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party could be in touch with the Eknath Shinde camp, triggering what is being dubbed in Maharashtra's political circles as "Operation Tiger."

The speculation has revived memories of the dramatic 2022 split that saw Eknath Shinde walk away with a large section of Shiv Sena legislators, eventually leading to the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray government and a division of the party.

Amid the latest buzz, Shiv Sena (UBT) Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut launched a strong counterattack, warning any dissatisfied lawmakers that they should first resign from their elected positions before switching sides.

"If anyone wants to leave, they are free to do so. But they should resign first and then face the people again," Raut said at a press conference in New Delhi.

What is 'Operation Tiger'?

The political chatter stems from reports claiming that as many as seven of Shiv Sena (UBT)'s nine Lok Sabha MPs have allegedly been in contact with leaders from the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and could be weighing a move towards the ruling alliance.

While no MP has publicly confirmed such a move, the reports have raised concerns within the Thackeray camp, prompting the party leadership to launch both a political and legal response.

Raut challenges MPs to publicly deny reports

Addressing reporters alongside party leaders Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai, Raut said any MP whose name is being linked to the rumours should come forward and publicly reject the claims.

"If such reports are false, the concerned MPs should deny them. The people of Maharashtra are watching. This time they will not remain silent," he said.

Raut suggested that public anger could be stronger than during previous political defections, arguing that voters had elected MPs under the Shiv Sena (UBT) banner and would expect accountability from those considering a change of allegiance.

The Rajya Sabha MP also expressed frustration over the speculation, saying party leaders had invested enormous effort in securing electoral victories for their candidates.

"We worked tirelessly for these MPs. Uddhav ji and all of us put in our blood, sweat and resources to ensure their victory. If such reports turn out to be true, we will not spare them politically," he said.

His comments reflect growing concern within the party leadership that another round of defections could weaken the organisation ahead of future electoral battles.

UBT reaches out to Lok Sabha Speaker

As speculation intensified, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Sanjay Raut met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in Parliament.

The leaders urged the Speaker to ensure that constitutional provisions and anti-defection safeguards are strictly followed in the event of any attempt to split the party's parliamentary wing.

Raut also revealed that the party has issued a whip for a parliamentary party meeting scheduled for Thursday, a move widely viewed as an attempt to assess the loyalty of MPs and prevent any surprise defections.

Meanwhile, Arvind Sawant has formally communicated the party's concerns to the Lok Sabha Speaker, while MP Anil Desai has reiterated that lawmakers alone cannot merge a political party with another formation without meeting constitutional requirements.

Why the stakes are high for Uddhav Thackeray

For Shiv Sena (UBT), the current speculation carries significance beyond mere parliamentary numbers.

The party is still recovering from the 2022 rebellion led by Eknath Shinde, which not only split the organisation but also altered Maharashtra's political landscape. Any fresh exodus of MPs would be seen as another major setback for Uddhav Thackeray's efforts to rebuild the party.

While the alleged rebels have not publicly declared their intentions, the unusually aggressive response from the party leadership suggests that Shiv Sena (UBT) is taking the threat seriously.

With ANI inputs