A fresh political battle has erupted in Maharashtra, with Uddhav Thackeray and Devendra Fadnavis in sharp words just days after six MPs from the UBT branch of Shiv Sena (UBT) joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.
The political sparring is especially important for Maharashtra politics at a crucial time, and the recent defections have strengthened the ruling Mahayuti alliance and dealt a severe setback to Thackeray’s camp.
Uddhav Thackeray Calls It 'Operation Devendra'
Uddhav Thackeray, however, told a public rally in Hingoli that the BJP’s purported “Operation Tiger” was really just an internal political strategy aimed at curbing Devendra Fadnavis’ future dreams rather than targeting the opposition.
Thackeray said the timing of the defections raised several questions.
"The MPs defected in the absence of elections. Why didn't they join the BJP instead? I suspect this is actually 'Operation Devendra'. Amit Shah might have orchestrated it to keep Fadnavis at a certain level so that he does not enter the race for the prime minister's post. If the need arises tomorrow, these rebels will vote for Amit Shah for the post of prime minister," he said.
Thackeray claimed that the larger purpose behind the political exercise was to help the BJP-led NDA secure a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha ahead of the proposed delimitation exercise.
Fadnavis Rejects Allegations
Devendra Fadnavis dismissed the allegations in Palghar after checking infrastructure projects, saying that he remained focused on Maharashtra's development.
"I am a human being. I don't have wings, so who can clip them? I have the blessings of Maharashtra's 14 crore people and my senior leaders, so there is no need to worry," the chief minister said while dismissing speculation about his political future.
The BJP also sought to play down Thackeray’s allegations, saying that there was no internal power struggle behind the recent political developments.
Shared Flight Fuels Political Speculation
The exchange follows an unexpected encounter in which Devendra Fadnavis and Uddhav Thackeray travelled on the same commercial flight from Mumbai to Nagpur. Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut were also on board, which led to considerable political speculation.
Fadnavis played down the significance of the incident and joked that the real headline was simply the fact that all of them were on the same flight together.
The BJP also emphasized that the shared journey had no political significance and that political opponents need not be personal enemies.
Shiv Sena Split Back in Spotlight
The latest war of words comes at a politically sensitive moment for Shiv Sena (UBT). Six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs have recently joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in what is another blow to Uddhav Thackeray’s faction and further consolidates the Mahayuti alliance ahead of future political battles.
The defections have once again brought the long-running Shiv Sena split into focus, adding to the rivalry between the Thackeray and Shinde camps and heightening speculation about the BJP’s internal structure and Maharashtra’s changing political scenario.
