A major political split appears to be emerging within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), with six of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs expected to officially announce their rebellion at a press conference today.

According to an NDTV report, the MPs will hold a press conference where they are expected to release photographs and videos of their meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, along with a copy of the letter submitted to him. They are also likely to detail the reasons that led to their decision to part ways with the party.

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The group is expected to claim that their move follows ideological differences within the organisation. At present, Shiv Sena (UBT) has nine Lok Sabha MPs, of whom six are reportedly in the rebel camp.

Behind the Split: ‘Operation Tiger’ Link Emerges

Sources suggest that the developments are linked to an internal political strategy allegedly referred to as ‘Operation Tiger’, believed to have influenced the shift in allegiance. The rebel MPs are spread across multiple locations, with some travelling from Mumbai, Pune, Chennai, and Kolkata to attend the press conference.

Earlier, the MPs had met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, informing him of their change in political alignment. They reportedly argued that their decision would not fall under the anti-defection law, citing ideological divergence. Further meetings with the Speaker or even with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde are also not ruled out.

Split Deepens In Thackeray Camp

The situation now indicates a possible second major split within the Thackeray family’s Shiv Sena, although no formal announcement has been made due to procedural and technical hurdles.

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At a recent Shiv Sena Foundation Day event, the rebel MPs were seen maintaining distance from Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and did not share the stage with him, reportedly to avoid any legal implication of defection under the anti-defection law.

Uddhav Thackeray’s Damage Control Move

Amid the growing crisis, Uddhav Thackeray has launched a three-day outreach and damage control tour across key constituencies, including Yavatmal, Parbhani, Hingoli, Dharashiv, and Shirdi, areas considered strongholds of the rebel MPs. During the visit, he is expected to meet district party leaders and attempt to prevent further erosion within the party.