Thackeray Accuses Shah of Orchestrating 'Operation Devendra' to Sideline Fadnavis

Mumbai: In a fresh political salvo, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday alleged that Union Home Minister Amit Shah masterminded the defection of Sena (UBT) Members of Parliament to the Eknath Shinde-led faction with the aim of sidelining Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Speaking to reporters, Thackeray said, “This whole ‘Operation Devendra’ was planned by Amit Shah. The defections were not just to weaken our party, but to ensure that Devendra Fadnavis is marginalised in Maharashtra politics.” Thackeray did not provide evidence but cited the timing of the defections and the roles of certain individuals.

The allegation comes amid a string of defections from Thackeray’s party to the Shinde faction, which broke away from the Sena in June 2022 and formed a government with the BJP. At least five of the party’s 19 Lok Sabha MPs have switched sides since then, weakening Thackeray’s parliamentary strength.

Political analysts note that the strained relationship between Thackeray and Fadnavis, who was chief minister until 2019, is well-known. Fadnavis had accused Thackeray of breaking the pre-poll alliance with the BJP in 2019, leading to the Sena’s tie-up with the Congress and NCP. Thackeray’s latest remarks are seen as an attempt to drive a wedge between the BJP and Shinde’s faction.

The BJP has not formally responded to Thackeray’s claims. However, earlier, party leaders dismissed similar allegations as baseless. Shinde’s camp has maintained that the defections are voluntary and reflect the popular will of party workers.

This development adds another layer to the complex political dynamics in Maharashtra, where alliances have shifted multiple times in recent years. The state is scheduled to hold assembly elections by November 2024, and the war of words is expected to intensify.