Mumbai witnessed a major political development on Monday as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde addressed a press conference after what he described as the successful completion of “Operation Tiger”, following the formal induction of six Members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (UBT) into his faction.
The MPs who switched sides include Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh, and Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar. Their entry was marked by a public appearance alongside Shinde, signalling a significant shift in Maharashtra’s ongoing political realignment.
Declaring the development a major boost for his party, Eknath Shinde said Shiv Sena has now emerged as the second-largest political force in Maharashtra. He stated that the party’s focus would remain on expanding grassroots outreach and strengthening governance across the state. He also said that the objective of the party is to take its ideology directly to citizens and ensure development work reaches every constituency.
Referring to the political operation behind the shift, Shinde said that “Operation Tiger” had been executed in a planned and decisive manner, and the outcome was visible with the joining of all six MPs. He asserted that his leadership is based on commitment and accountability, adding that public service remains his primary priority.
Shinde also stressed that the party functions without hierarchy barriers and that every representative is expected to work independently for public welfare. He reiterated that the state government, supported by the “double-engine model”, would address development concerns raised by the newly joined MPs.
He further said that Maharashtra voters have consistently supported development-oriented leadership and that those who moved away from this ideology have been politically rejected by the people. According to him, the current alignment reflects the original ideological foundation of Shiv Sena based on Balasaheb Thackeray’s vision.
The Deputy Chief Minister also emphasized that the government’s focus is solely on governance and development, stating that all administrative priorities will be directed towards infrastructure growth, welfare delivery, and constituency-level problem solving.
