Two MPs’ Refusal to Sign Letter Stalls Operation Tiger

On Wednesday, June 17, 2026, the political manoeuvre known as Operation Tiger was stalled after two Lok Sabha MPs from the Shiv Sena UBT declined to sign a letter addressed to the Speaker, according to top sources. The two parliamentarians are Omraje Nimbalkar and Sanjay Dina Patil. Sources indicated that Patil had remained in contact with Uddhav Sena leaders until Wednesday afternoon, but ultimately did not endorse the document.

The operation, which requires the consolidated support of at least six Lok Sabha MPs, could not move forward without their signatures. A senior leader familiar with the matter explained that the process remains in its early stages. “This is still a long process. After they come together and sign a letter, they will have to present themselves in front of the Speaker. Due process will follow thereafter. It is not a matter of a day or two,” the leader said, emphasising the procedural complexities involved.

While the exact objectives of Operation Tiger have not been publicly detailed, the signing of the letter to the Speaker is a critical first step. The resistance from within the Uddhav Thackeray camp has raised questions about internal unity and the feasibility of the initiative. The non-compliance of these two MPs temporarily halted the momentum, but sources suggest that efforts to bring all six members on board may continue in the coming days.

Shiv Sena UBT leaders have alleged that MP Omraje Nimbalkar is under external pressure due to a pending court verdict related to the assassination of his father, former Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar. A Sena UBT functionary claimed, “For Omraje Nimbalkar, the hanging sword is the judgement in the Pawanraje Nimbalkar case. It has been deferred to 20th June. We have learnt that the judgement is contingent on whether he supports Shiv Sena.” These allegations have not been independently verified.

The case pertains to the 2006 murder of Pawanraje Nimbalkar, who was shot dead in Navi Mumbai. A special CBI court in Mumbai is scheduled to deliver its judgment on June 20, after a trial that spanned over 15 years. Former NCP MP Padamsinh Patil, a cousin of the victim, is among those accused of orchestrating a contract killing. The verdict has been deferred multiple times, adding to the political speculation surrounding its timing.

Omraje Nimbalkar has not publicly commented on the claims of pressure, and it remains unclear how the court’s decision might influence his political actions. The intersection of legal proceedings and legislative manoeuvring has drawn attention to the vulnerabilities faced by elected representatives when personal and political interests converge.

Constitutional experts note that any change in parliamentary group status requires adherence to the anti-defection law and formal procedures overseen by the Speaker. The success of Operation Tiger, if it involves a split or realignment, would depend on meeting these statutory requirements. The current impasse highlights the challenges of orchestrating such moves in a closely watched political landscape.

As the June 20 court date approaches, all eyes remain on the Shiv Sena UBT’s internal dynamics and the fate of Operation Tiger. The development underscores the complex interplay between judicial outcomes and political strategies in India’s parliamentary democracy.