NEW DELHI: As the political tensions continue to flare between Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde camps, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut on Saturday shared a cryptic social media post.His post came amid the ongoing ‘Operation Tiger’ buzz and growing speculation that six of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs could defect to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.In a post on X, Raut shared an infographic carrying the message: “Kuch log kuttey toh hoty hain lekin wafa’daar nahi hoty” (Some people are dogs, but they are not loyal). He captioned the post with “Jai Maharashtra!”Raut’s remarks came a day after Maharashtra deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, while addressing Shiv Sena workers on the party’s 60th foundation day, took a swipe at the Uddhav Thackeray camp and said, “Kutte jhund main aake bhokte hai, sher akela ata hai” (Dogs bark in packs, a lion walks alone).The exchange comes against the backdrop of mounting speculation over a fresh split within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), after six of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs skipped a crucial parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi, fuelling rumours that they could join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.“People support the decision we took four years ago,” Shinde said.The latest controversy follows Raut’s announcement on Thursday that the party had initiated action against the six absent MPs. He said show-cause notices had been issued and that efforts would be made to seek their disqualification from the Lok Sabha.“The process for taking action has started,” Raut told reporters.“We will make every effort to get them disqualified. If the Speaker of the Lok Sabha works according to the rules, the law, and the Supreme Court’s directives, these people will be disqualified,” he added.Speculation surrounding the alleged “Operation Tiger” gained momentum after Shiv Sena MLC Chandrakant Raghuvanshi claimed that six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs had expressed confidence in Shinde’s leadership and were prepared to join his faction.The crisis has left the Uddhav Thackeray camp facing the possibility of a second major split, nearly four years after Shinde’s 2022 rebellion led to the fall of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government and the eventual recognition of the Shinde faction as the official Shiv Sena.Amid the turmoil, Uddhav Thackeray made an emotional appeal to party workers during the foundation day celebrations on Friday. He said he was willing to step down as party chief if supporters no longer had faith in his leadership, but insisted that he would never allow the party to be handed over to “thieves”.“If the allegations made against me are something you truly believe, then tell me, and I am ready to step down from this position right now,” Thackeray said.“I have only one condition, this Shiv Sena (UBT), which is as precious as gold, must not be handed over to thieves and looters,” he added.The former Maharashtra chief minister also apologised to voters who had elected MPs now facing allegations of rebellion and asserted that Shiv Sainiks remained energised despite the latest political challenge.Meanwhile, Shinde suggested that more defections could follow.“This is just a trailer, the movie is yet to come,” he said, hinting at further political developments within the opposition camp.The latest developments have deepened uncertainty over the future of Shiv Sena (UBT) and raised the stakes in Maharashtra’s evolving political battle ahead of upcoming elections.
Should Uddhav Thackeray step down as party chief if his supporters lose faith in him?
