As speculation mounted about a possible split in the Lok Sabha unit of Uddhav Thackeray’s (UBT) party, senior party leader Sanjay Raut on Wednesday alleged that some MPs have been lured with huge financial inducements to change their sides.
“I got a call from an important person, who told me that the deputies had been promised $50 Crores With $Rs 15 crore as advance. “MPs are being bought off in Maharashtra,” Sena UBT MP Sanjay Raut alleged during a press conference with party leaders Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabao Waje.
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Arvind Sawant, Anil Desai and Rajabhau Waje are said to be the only three of the nine MPs who support Uddhav Thackeray.
Party issues are presented to all nine representatives
Sena parliamentary party (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant issued a whip directing all nine party MPs to attend a meeting scheduled on Thursday.
“Sena parliamentary party (UBT) chief Arvind Sawant has issued a whip, asking all nine MPs to attend the party meeting at 11 am tomorrow. Those who are elected on the party symbol have no right to betray the party,” says Sanjay Raut.
“MPs have no right to betray the party. This time people will not tolerate it. There will be reactions,” says Sanjay Raut.
Operation Tiger
Operation Tiger – the name given to the Shiv Sena’s attempts to poach the Sena’s (UBT) elected representatives – gained momentum on Tuesday evening, two days after only four of the Sena’s nine MPs attended a meeting called by Thackeray at his residence in Mumbai.
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Shinde camp leaders claim that six Sena MPs (UBT) are likely to form a separate group and may submit a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla before merging with the Shiv Sena’s parliamentary unit.
The six MPs who are likely to form a separatist group are: Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Bhausaheb Wakshuri (Shirdi), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Nagesh Patil Ashtekar (Hingoli), Umraji Nimbakar (Dharashiv), Sanjay Patel (Mumbai NE). However, this cannot be independently verified.
Sources also said that Nepalkar and Patel remained in discussions with Sena leaders, while Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh and Bhausaheb Wakshor arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday and did not respond to calls from party leaders, HT had reported earlier.
If six of the Sena’s nine UBT MPs decide to secede, they would constitute two-thirds of the parliamentary party, which could allow them to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.
Read also | Amid the ‘Op Tiger’ uproar, the Sena (UBT) claims that all nine MPs attended the meeting
The situation prompted senior Sena (UBT) leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and Lok Sabha group leader Arvind Sawant, to rush to New Delhi.
Adding to his claims, Raut wrote on X: “I have received shocking information that Maharashtra MPs are being paid salaries.” $15 crores each in advance tonight. Abna sapna money money.”
The division may not remain limited to representatives
The possibility of a greater political realignment has also emerged. The Shiv Sena minister claimed that discussions are on with some MLAs in the Sena (UBT) as well.
“The split may not be limited to Lok Sabha MPs. Some of the Sena’s 20 MLAs (UBT) are also in touch with us. We are aiming to get 16-17 MLAs. It could be a big split,” the minister said.
If the efforts succeed, it will mark another major setback for Uddhav Thackeray after the 2022 split led by Eknath Shinde that brought down the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra.
Shinde himself refused to comment on Operation Tiger. Responding to questions on the issue, Sena MP and party spokesperson Naresh Maske said: “We are not asking anyone to join us. There are many disgruntled leaders and elected representatives in the Sena (UBT). Even if an ordinary Sainik seeks to join our party, we welcome him.”