A sharp political exchange has erupted in Maharashtra between Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis over allegations surrounding the defection of MPs from Thackeray’s faction. The dispute comes amid continuing tensions following the split in the Shiv Sena and the realignment of political forces in the state.
Uddhav Thackeray, while touring constituencies of six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs who recently defected to the Eknath Shinde-led faction, alleged that a coordinated political strategy termed “Operation Devendra” was behind the exits. He claimed the defections were not coincidental and suggested that the move was designed to weaken his faction while also influencing internal dynamics within the Bharatiya Janata Party-led alliance in Maharashtra.
Thackeray further alleged that the MPs were taken away at a time when no elections were imminent, questioning why they did not join the BJP directly if that had been the intended political direction. He also suggested that Union Home Minister Amit Shah may have been involved in the process, claiming it could have been aimed at limiting Fadnavis’ political rise and keeping him “at a certain level” within the party hierarchy. These remarks added a new layer of tension to an already fractured political environment in the state.
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Responding to the allegations a day later, Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the claims, rejecting the notion of any such orchestrated “operation.” He said that as a public representative, he did not possess the influence implied in Thackeray’s remarks. “I am a human being. I don’t have wings, so who can clip them?” Fadnavis said, adding that he had the support and blessings of Maharashtra’s 14 crore people as well as senior party leadership, and that there was no cause for concern over political stability.
The exchange highlights the continuing political friction between the two sides following the 2022 Shiv Sena split, which saw a significant faction led by Eknath Shinde break away and form the state government in alliance with the BJP. Since then, both camps have repeatedly traded accusations over legitimacy, defections and political manoeuvring, with each side attempting to shape the narrative around the split.
As Maharashtra’s political landscape continues to evolve, the latest war of words underscores the unresolved tensions within the Shiv Sena and its rival factions. With elections expected in the coming political cycle, both Thackeray and Fadnavis appear set to intensify their outreach efforts, with political messaging increasingly focused on questions of loyalty, legitimacy and leadership within the state’s shifting power structure.
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