Following major political realignments in Maharashtra, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar has asserted that his party remains stable and will not face any defections similar to what recently happened in Shiv Sena (UBT). Speaking to reporters in Baramati, Pawar made a clear statement expressing confidence in the unity of his party.
In a video on X (formerly Twitter), Sharad Pawar said, “Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs have split; none of our MPs will split,” while responding to questions about the shifting political landscape in the state.
The remarks come at a time when Maharashtra politics is witnessing renewed turbulence after six Members of Parliament from the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray faction) joined the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The MPs who switched allegiance include Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv), Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal-Washim), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi), and Sanjay Dina Patil (Mumbai North East). Their move has significantly boosted the Shinde-led Shiv Sena’s strength in Parliament and intensified the ongoing political rivalry between the two Shiv Sena factions.
After the induction of these MPs, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde addressed a press conference and confirmed the development, describing it as part of a successful political strategy referred to as “Operation Tiger.” The Shinde camp celebrated the move as a major organisational win.
However, the shift has drawn sharp criticism from the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership. Party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut alleged that each of the defecting MPs was offered nearly ₹12 crore to switch sides. He accused them of betraying voter trust and abandoning party ideology for personal or political gain.
On the other hand, the rebel MPs defended their decision, stating that their move was driven by development concerns in their constituencies. Leaders such as Nagesh Ashtikar and Omraje Nimbalkar said that working from the opposition benches had limited their ability to secure development funds and implement local projects.
They also pointed out that the MPLAD fund of ₹5 crore per year was insufficient to meet the infrastructure and development demands of their constituencies, and claimed that lack of cooperation from the state administration further affected their performance.
In a separate explanation, Omraje Nimbalkar also cited personal and legal circumstances, referring to developments in the case involving the murder of his father, Pawanraje Nimbalkar. He said discussions with senior leaders, including Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, helped facilitate talks with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured that the CBI would review legal options regarding the case based on merit.
