Last Updated:
Eknath Shinde’s Operation Tiger 3.0 Buzz: Rumours intensified following reports that 14 UBT MLAs allegedly met Shinde at an undisclosed location
Lok Sabha Speaker Clears Merger of 6 UBT Rebel MPs With Shinde’s Shiv Sena.
Maharashtra’s political circles are buzzing with speculation of ‘Operation Tiger 3.0’, with rumours suggesting that 14 of the 20 MLAs from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) faction are preparing to defect and join deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s party.
What is Operation Tiger? What is the buzz? News18 explains.
OPERATION TIGER
Operation Tiger 1.0 (2022): Eknath Shinde led a massive rebellion that split the undivided Shiv Sena, leading to the collapse of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government.
Operation Tiger 2.0 (June 2026): Six Lok Sabha Members of Parliament (MPs) from the UBT faction officially defected to Shinde’s camp.
Operation Tiger 3.0: This is the rumored third phase aimed at the legislative assembly. Shinde’s camp needs exactly 14 MLAs to clear the two-thirds threshold required to split the legislative party without triggering disqualification under the anti-defection law.
WHAT TRIGGERED THE BUZZ?
Shiv Sena Minister Gulabrao Patil and other leaders sparked the conversation by claiming that ‘Operation Tiger 3.0’ has begun. Patil publicly stated, “Wait for some time, more than 14 MLAs will come to Shinde… When Eknath Shinde moves his hands on his beard, then Operation Tiger is a success.”
Rumours intensified following reports that 14 UBT MLAs allegedly met Shinde at an undisclosed location. This coincided with an MVA opposition meeting where only 37 out of 60 allied legislators showed up, fueling rumors of internal instability.
The latest reports from Shinde faction insiders claim that these 14 MLAs are targeted to officially jump ship before the upcoming Navratri festival.
WHAT SHINDE SENA LEADERS SAY
Uday Samant, Maharashtra’s Industries Minister and a key leader in the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, noted that a political operation of this magnitude cannot be predicted or spoken about openly. He stated, “Operation Tiger does not happen by talking about it. You are fully aware of this… The day it happens, it will be a very big piece of breaking news for everyone.”
He maintained that people from all tiers of politics are ready to accept Eknath Shinde’s leadership. He claimed that an influx of leaders—ranging from Gram Panchayat members and housing society chairmen to major, high-level public representatives—are eager to jump ship. “There is no need to engage in the politics of splitting parties (Foda-fodi). People are coming over on their own accord,” he said.
RESPONSE FROM SHIV SENA (UBT)
The Uddhav Thackeray faction has vehemently dismissed the reports as baseless rumors and psychological warfare. UBT MLA Kailash Patil asserted that not a single MLA will leave the party.
The UBT leadership claims that the Shinde faction is intentionally fabricating these split rumors to divert public attention from ongoing state issues, such as the tense Maratha reservation and OBC protests.
Quick Answers
Ask News18There are intense rumours and speculation that 14 out of the 20 MLAs from Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) faction are preparing to defect and join Eknath Shinde’s camp. Rumours intensified after these 14 MLAs allegedly held a secret meeting with Shinde at an undisclosed location. Insiders from the Shinde faction claim that these 14 MLAs are targeted to officially switch sides before the upcoming Navratri festival.
Ask News18About the Author
At the news desk for 20 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci…Read More
September 02, 2026, 12:17 IST
Read More
