'We have hit a sixer now': Eknath Shinde's 'Operation Tiger' gets a new roar as Uddhav Thackeray's UBT loses Lok Sabha strength
MUMBAI: Six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs formally joined Eknath Shinde ’s Shiv Sena on Monday in a major show of strength at Nariman Point’s YB Chavan Centre. Shinde presided over the joining event and described the move as the success of “Operation Tiger”, saying that the entry of the six MPs had strengthened his party ahead of the next political battle.
Shinde said that there were “not one but six tigers” with him and called all six MPs “Dhurandars”. He said he does not carry out half-hearted operations and claimed that “Operation Tiger” had been successful.
“I welcome these 6 to the real Shiv Sena family of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe. These hard core Shiv Sainiks have joined the real Shiv Sena. Four years ago on June 22, 2022, we led a rebellion. We were 40 MLAs initially but we have hit a sixer now. In 2022, to save the Shiv Sena and the bow and arrow and Balasaheb’s ideology, we rebelled. In 2022, we did the first operation. Now the 2nd phase has started. We are fighting for Hindutva and Balasaheb’s ideology. Shiv Sena’s ideology and Shiv Sainiks go hand in hand. So we welcome these MPs for taking a decision to join the real Shiv Sena family,” Shinde said.
Shinde said the MPs’ entry was completed within the legal, constitutional and parliamentary framework.
“All legal and parliamentary processes are complete. All six MPs will fight the next polls on a Shiv Sena ticket and win the next polls,” he said.
Shinde also said that instead of criticising those who have left the Shiv Sena (UBT), the party should introspect. He accused the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of making allegations against those who switched sides.
“There were many misleading reports, allegations…I want to tell them. All these 6 MPs…are grassroots workers. They are rooted to the ground and deeply connected to workers. Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, he is the dearest. He is carefree and daring and very good for friendship. Each one has a unique virtue. Many people tried to stop Omraje Nimbalkar, but he had made up his mind. He has come to get development done in the constituency and do justice to party workers,” Shinde said.
Reacting to criticism against the MPs after their decision to switch camps, Shinde said they were earlier praised by the Sena (UBT) but were now being targeted.
“When they were with them (Sena UBT) they were real stars and now they are being called reel stars. They want to do more work so they have come here. Nagesh Patil Ashtikar is our opening batsman. They all have something special. They have not come for their personal gain but for the people of their constituency, their development and justice. In Omraje's father’s case, the verdict was unfortunate. I have told him I’m with him and so is Shiv Sena. We are not here to break anyone or stop anyone but to expand Shiv Sena. But if anyone comes in our way, we will not take it lying down,” Shinde said.
Shinde said the 2022 rebellion was carried out to protect Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology and claimed that people had accepted their decision.
“Even in 2022, we rebelled for a cause to protect Balasaheb’s ideology. The common people accepted our decision…rivals said none of the 40 MLAs will win again. We were 40 and now 60 MLAs got elected. But people accepted us. Our intent was clear, we took the Hindutva ideology forward. We rejoined the alliance stitched by Balasaheb and Atalji. Those who abandoned the ideology were rejected by people. We are trying to give what’s in the people’s mind. Our agenda is development. Six MPs have joined us who have won with lakhs of votes. Shiv Sena will be strengthened more now,” he said.
The joining event was attended by Shiv Sena MLAs, MLCs, ministers and senior party functionaries.
Sena functionary Ramdas Kadam, meanwhile, claimed that the seventh MP had also signed the letter submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition of a separate group and said the MP was likely to join the Shinde-led Sena soon.
With the entry of the six MPs, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena now has 13 MPs in the Lok Sabha, making the party a key player within the BJP-led NDA. Political observers said the development is likely to boost Shinde’s stature within the alliance and increase his political weight.
Shinde said that there were “not one but six tigers” with him and called all six MPs “Dhurandars”. He said he does not carry out half-hearted operations and claimed that “Operation Tiger” had been successful.
“I welcome these 6 to the real Shiv Sena family of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Dighe. These hard core Shiv Sainiks have joined the real Shiv Sena. Four years ago on June 22, 2022, we led a rebellion. We were 40 MLAs initially but we have hit a sixer now. In 2022, to save the Shiv Sena and the bow and arrow and Balasaheb’s ideology, we rebelled. In 2022, we did the first operation. Now the 2nd phase has started. We are fighting for Hindutva and Balasaheb’s ideology. Shiv Sena’s ideology and Shiv Sainiks go hand in hand. So we welcome these MPs for taking a decision to join the real Shiv Sena family,” Shinde said.
Shinde said the MPs’ entry was completed within the legal, constitutional and parliamentary framework.
“All legal and parliamentary processes are complete. All six MPs will fight the next polls on a Shiv Sena ticket and win the next polls,” he said.
Shinde also said that instead of criticising those who have left the Shiv Sena (UBT), the party should introspect. He accused the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction of making allegations against those who switched sides.
“There were many misleading reports, allegations…I want to tell them. All these 6 MPs…are grassroots workers. They are rooted to the ground and deeply connected to workers. Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, he is the dearest. He is carefree and daring and very good for friendship. Each one has a unique virtue. Many people tried to stop Omraje Nimbalkar, but he had made up his mind. He has come to get development done in the constituency and do justice to party workers,” Shinde said.
Reacting to criticism against the MPs after their decision to switch camps, Shinde said they were earlier praised by the Sena (UBT) but were now being targeted.
“When they were with them (Sena UBT) they were real stars and now they are being called reel stars. They want to do more work so they have come here. Nagesh Patil Ashtikar is our opening batsman. They all have something special. They have not come for their personal gain but for the people of their constituency, their development and justice. In Omraje's father’s case, the verdict was unfortunate. I have told him I’m with him and so is Shiv Sena. We are not here to break anyone or stop anyone but to expand Shiv Sena. But if anyone comes in our way, we will not take it lying down,” Shinde said.
Shinde said the 2022 rebellion was carried out to protect Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology and claimed that people had accepted their decision.
“Even in 2022, we rebelled for a cause to protect Balasaheb’s ideology. The common people accepted our decision…rivals said none of the 40 MLAs will win again. We were 40 and now 60 MLAs got elected. But people accepted us. Our intent was clear, we took the Hindutva ideology forward. We rejoined the alliance stitched by Balasaheb and Atalji. Those who abandoned the ideology were rejected by people. We are trying to give what’s in the people’s mind. Our agenda is development. Six MPs have joined us who have won with lakhs of votes. Shiv Sena will be strengthened more now,” he said.
The joining event was attended by Shiv Sena MLAs, MLCs, ministers and senior party functionaries.
Sena functionary Ramdas Kadam, meanwhile, claimed that the seventh MP had also signed the letter submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking recognition of a separate group and said the MP was likely to join the Shinde-led Sena soon.
With the entry of the six MPs, Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena now has 13 MPs in the Lok Sabha, making the party a key player within the BJP-led NDA. Political observers said the development is likely to boost Shinde’s stature within the alliance and increase his political weight.
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