'Operation Devendra': Uddhav says Shah planned Sena (UBT) MP defections to 'sideline' Fadnavis

NEW DELHI: Shiv Sena (UBT) president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday alleged that the BJP's so-called "Operation Tiger"—the defection of six Lok Sabha MPs from his faction to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena earlier this week—was aimed at keeping Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, a BJP member, "in check."Thackeray accused Union home minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah of planning the defections to prevent Fadnavis from becoming a contender for the prime minister's chair."The MPs defected despite there being no elections. Why didn't they join the BJP instead? I suspect this is actually 'Operation Devendra.' Shah might have orchestrated it to keep Fadnavis at a certain level so that he does not enter the race for the prime minister's post, " Thackeray said at a rally in Hingoli, a constituency represented by one of the six former Shiv Sena (UBT) members who switched sides.If the need arises tomorrow, these rebels will vote for Amit Shah for the post of prime minister," he added.The former Maharashtra chief minister also claimed that "Operation Tiger"—a reference to the tiger symbol of the Shiv Sena when it was undivided—was aimed at helping the BJP-led NDA secure a two-thirds majority in the Lok Sabha to facilitate the passage of the delimitation bill."They want to get the delimitation bill passed so that the entire country falls into the hands of north India. It does not matter how many farmers commit suicide, how many paper leaks take place or how many students end their lives. What they want is MPs," Uddhav Thackeray remarked.The opposition claims that through delimitation, the BJP seeks to increase the number of parliamentary seats in northern states, where it enjoys relatively stronger support compared to the south.The saffron party, however, has maintained that the increase in constituencies would be proportionate, with a 50% rise in seats for each state.Uddhav Thackeray is touring the constituencies of the six MPs who joined the Shiv Sena, a BJP ally. Deptuty chief minister Shinde's rebellion in June 2022 split the then-undivided Shiv Sena, led to the fall of the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra, and paved the way for Shinde to serve as chief minister for the next two years.The Election Commission recognises Shinde's faction as the official Shiv Sena.Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena (UBT) supremo's remarks came a day after he found himself on the same IndiGo flight as Fadnavis, as they travelled from Mumbai to Nagpur, the chief minister's hometown.This triggered political speculation, which the BJP played down, saying the two leaders are political rivals but are not personal enemies.(With PTI inputs)Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.