Sanjay Raut issues ultimatum to alleged Shiv Sena (UBT) defectors

Raut, flanked by MPs Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai, warned that the electorate in Maharashtra would not tolerate betrayal from representatives who secured their mandates on a Shiv Sena (UBT) ticket. He explicitly challenged those considering a departure to face the voters again rather than defecting in secret. The outburst followed persistent rumors of an 'Operation Tiger' campaign, which suggests that seven of the party's nine MPs may be preparing to switch allegiance to the Eknath Shinde-led government.

While party colleague Anil Desai attempted to downplay the inflammatory language as mere emotional venting, the political stakes remain high. Raut claimed that the party leadership has identified specific financial incentives behind the rumored split, noting that alleged defectors had already boarded charter flights from Nanded and Pune. In response to the instability, the party has issued a formal whip for a parliamentary meeting scheduled for June 18. Six MPs are expected to meet Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to address the mounting internal pressure and clarify their standing within the house.