Overview
- Six Lok Sabha MPs from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) formally joined Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, a move first reported on June 22 that cuts UBT’s lower‑house strength from nine to three and equals two‑thirds of its MPs.
- Uddhav Thackeray has demanded immediate disqualification of the six defectors, has taken a tour of their constituencies to rally workers and announce local candidates, and accused the BJP of orchestrating the exits in what he calls “Operation Devendra.”
- Shinde’s camp and allied Mahayuti leaders call the outreach “Operation Tiger,” say legal formalities have been completed, and have signalled plans to press recruitment among MLAs and corporators as part of a wider ‘Split 3.0’ strategy.
- The anti‑defection law matters because two‑thirds of a party’s lawmakers can merge without disqualification, and the UBT has submitted a representation to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking a hearing; the Speaker’s decision and any further legal review are now central.
- The latest setback for UBT came on June 30 when MLC Sachin Ahir joined Shinde’s camp and filed for deputy‑chair of the state council, a shift that could alter development funding flows, local patronage and the balance inside the Mahayuti alliance and makes further defections and the Speaker’s ruling the key things to watch next.