Uddhav Thackeray Offers to Resign as Shiv Sena (UBT) Chief Amid Defection Crisis; Shinde Warns of More Splits

On the 60th foundation day of Shiv Sena (UBT), party president Uddhav Thackeray offered to step down from his position if his leaders believed allegations levelled against him by defecting parliamentarians. Speaking at Shanmukhanand Hall in Mumbai on Friday, he urged the cadre to expose those making accusations and said he was willing to hand over the party to any member who stepped forward. He also called for an 'Operation Lotus' in response to the alleged 'Operation Tiger' by the rival Shiv Sena faction, which he claimed had lured six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs.

Thackeray refuted speculations that his party would merge with the Congress, pointing out that the Shiv Sena had not merged with the BJP despite a 30-year alliance. He criticised the BJP for what he termed 'dirty politics', accusing it of deploying 2.5 lakh paramilitary forces in West Bengal to defeat a woman chief minister. He warned that the country was moving towards anarchy and that faith in democracy was eroding.

Meanwhile, at a separate foundation day event at NESCO Ground in Goregaon, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde hinted at further defections from the Thackeray-led faction. Without directly referencing 'Operation Tiger', he said, 'What was seen was only a trailer; the movie is yet to be screened.' Shinde asserted that true heirs of Balasaheb Thackeray were his own Shiv Sainiks, not necessarily those related by blood. He emphasised that succession was based on ideology, not lineage.

These developments come amid intense political turbulence in Maharashtra, with six of the nine Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs reportedly set to defect to Shinde's faction. The split would reduce the party's parliamentary strength to three MPs. Shiv Sena (UBT) is a key ally of the opposition INDIA bloc. The party has already initiated disciplinary action against the six MPs for skipping a parliamentary board meeting. This marks the second major split in four years; in 2022, Shinde had walked away with 40 of the 55 MLAs, claiming the original party and its symbol.

Responding to allegations that he was unavailable to party members, Thackeray initially criticised the defectors but later made an emotional appeal. He offered to step down immediately if the cadre believed the charges against him. 'I don't run away. I will stand strong. But I want your support,' he said. He also asked party workers if they would stay with him even if he did not contest elections or offer tickets. Thackeray expressed gratitude for the support his family has received over 60 years.