Fresh Defection Rumors Hit Shiv Sena UBT as Operation Tiger Surfaces

Raghuvanshi confirmed the development on Thursday, framing the move as a pragmatic choice for representatives focused on grassroots fieldwork. He suggested that alignment with the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP coalition has become the preferred path for leaders seeking to remain effective. According to the MLC, these MPs maintained their loyalty to the late Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology while concluding that Shinde’s leadership represents the only viable vehicle for their political goals.

The political climate in Maharashtra remains volatile as rumors swirl that up to seven of the nine UBT-affiliated MPs are exploring a switch. Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav dismissed the internal turmoil as a byproduct of the rhetoric employed by senior leader Sanjay Raut. Jadhav argued that such language is actively eroding the foundations of the UBT faction. Regarding the formal process, the Union Minister noted that the fate of these shifting allegiances now rests with the Lok Sabha Speaker, who will adjudicate the validity of the MPs' internal correspondence. As both factions prepare to mark the party's foundation day on June 19, the competition for the mantle of Balasaheb’s true successor has intensified, turning internal party identity into a high-stakes legislative battle.