- By Aditya Jha
- Sat, 27 Jun 2026 02:42 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
- Gulabrao Patil claims 'Operation Tiger 3.0' has begun
- 14 MLAs from Uddhav faction will soon join Shinde faction, Patil said
- Uday Samant refuted the claims, but said that the UBT MLAs were willing to switch sides
Maharashtra Politics: Days after 23 of the total 60 MLAs of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) remained absent from the meeting chaired by Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) leader Gulabrao Patil claimed that 14 UBT MLAs could soon join the Shinde Sena. However, Uday Samant, another leader of Shinde Sena, refuted such reports but further claimed that the UBT Sena MLAs are willing to support the ruling NDA.
Gulabrao Patil Takes Dig At Uddhav Thackeray
Uddhav Thackeray, along with the other senior leaders, visited the constituencies represented by the six MPs who merged with the Shinde Sena. However, Patil, while talking to the reporters, claimed that Thackeray neglected the party leaders, adding that the MLAs will soon switch sides.
"Just wait a bit, and more than 14 MLAs will join him (Shinde). Eknath Shinde doesn't speak, he just strokes his beard. Uddhav Thackeray's son, Aditya Thackeray, has acknowledged this. When Eknath Shinde strokes his beard, you can understand that 'Operation Tiger' has been successful," Patil said.
Will Vijay Wadettiwar Leave Congress?
Apart from this, while reacting to the speculations suggesting that Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar is also ready to join Shinde Sena, Samant asserted that the party is ready to welcome the leaders willing to work under the leadership of Eknath Shinde. "Wadettiwar never spoke to us about joining the party, but I would be most happy if any powerful leader from Vidarbha decides to work with Eknath Shinde," he said.
However, Wadettiwar refuted such reports and assured that he will not support Shinde under any circumstances. Earlier, Uddhav Thackeray raised questions on the unity of the opposition alliance after 23 MLAs, along with veterans like Sharad Pawar and Nana Patole, remained absent in the meeting.
Thackeray reiterated that all the leaders of the opposition must raise the issues together and show unity to fight the NDA government.