Maharashtra: Six Uddhav Shiv Sena MPs Join Shinde Faction

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde announced that all six Lok Sabha members who defected from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (Uddhav) have formally joined the ruling Shiv Sena (Shinde) faction, describing the move as the completion of “Operation Tiger.” The six MPs – Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Sanjay Deena Patil (Mumbai North‑East), Nagesh Patil‑Ashtikar (Hingoli), Omprakash Rajenimbalkar (Dharashiv) and Bhausaheb Wakcauare (Shirdi) – had previously aligned with the Shinde alliance for the 2024 general election.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav) leader Ambadas Danve denounced the defections, accusing the MPs of “selling themselves” and alleging that they were bribed to switch sides. Danve pledged that details of the alleged deals would be disclosed later. The defections strengthen the Shinde‑led coalition, potentially enhancing its bargaining power within the Mahayuti alliance that also includes the BJP and RPI (A).