Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Omprakash Rajenimbalkar has confirmed joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
Statesman News Service | New Delhi | June 21, 2026 10:17 pm
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) supremo, Eknath Shinde on Sunday dropped a big hint on the so-called “Operation Tiger”, saying that soon, there will be a “breaking news”.
“You will get breaking news soon,” Shinde, who engineered the first split in Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in 2022, told reporters when asked about the operation to break Shiv Sena (UBT)’s MPs.
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In an apparent reference to UBT Sena leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut’s abusive remarks on dissidents, Shinde said, “They curse in the morning and go to MPs’ houses in the evening and hold their feet.”
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Mumbai: Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde says, "Watched the press conference of the opposition. The convention is to give justice to the people. The opposition party has always maintained the weapon of boycott. If the government had not changed in 2022, Maharashtra would have… pic.twitter.com/sVBNAWOEBE
— ANI (@ANI) June 21, 2026
Six of the 9 UBT Sena MPs are reportedly joining the Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The rebels have written a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, conveying their decision to be recognised as a separate bloc.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, who accompanied Shinde during the presser, asserted that the faction led by his deputy is the real Shiv Sena.
“Shiv Sena is a legacy of thought. When he left this legacy, Eknath Shinde also kept Shiv Sena alive. Uddhav Thackeray didn’t do self-reflection when he wanted to self-reflect. Shiv Sena of Balasaheb Thackeray is the Shiv Sena of Eknath Shinde,” Fadnavis said.
UBT Sena MP Omraje Nimbalkar joins Shinde faction
Meanwhile, Omprakash Rajenimbalkar has confirmed joining the Shinde-led Shiv Sena, according to media reports.
Nimbalkar had earlier said that he would announce his decision only after the verdict in his father’s murder case was pronounced.
The verdict pronounced on Saturday came as a setback to Omraje as the CBI court acquitted all the accused, including Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s brother Padamsinh Patil.
It was being speculated that Omraje may reconsider his switch after the verdict, but his decision to join the Shinde camp has come as a major setback to the Uddhav Thackeray faction.
Earlier, UBT Sena MP from Hingoli, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, had also confirmed his move to the ruling Shiv Sena faction.
Ashtikar cited lack of development funds and purported remarks made by Sanjay Raut against dissident MPs as the key reasons behind his rebellion.
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The Shinde faction’s Lok Sabha strength has now risen from seven to thirteen.
Aaditya Thackeray accused the BJP of encouraging defections as Shiv Sena (UBT) grappled with a growing rebellion. MP Nagesh Patil Ashtikar confirmed his exit while Uddhav Thackeray prepared a statewide outreach campaign.
Maharashtra’s monsoon session opens amid a fresh political showdown as six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs are set to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, prompting opposition allegations of political poaching.
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