Mumbai: Amid growing speculation of a possible split in the Shiv Sena (UBT), senior party leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Wednesday alleged that Members of Parliament from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party were being offered huge sums of money to defect. He also triggered controversy by publicly using abusive languages against the rebel MPs and then asking reporters not to edit the portion.
Raut claimed that MPs were being promised up to Rs 50 crore each to switch sides, alleging that an advance payment of Rs 15 crore was being offered as part of the effort. He described the alleged inducements as an attempt to destabilise the party and revive memories of the 2022 rebellion that led to the split in the undivided Shiv Sena.
“I have information that Rs 15 crore each was delivered to the MPs, after which they boarded charter flights from three places, including Nanded and Pune. We have issued a whip for the Parliamentary Party Meeting tomorrow. Arvind ji (Arvind Sawant) has written to the Lok Sabha Speaker,” he told reporters.
“If anyone wants to go, they can resign and leave. If such reports emerge about our MPs, then they should refute them. This time, the people of Maharashtra will not remain silent,” he added.
The allegations come amid reports of an alleged “Operation Tiger”, a purported move by the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena to attract MPs from the rival camp. Political speculation intensified after reports suggested that several Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs were reportedly in Delhi and in touch with the Shinde faction.
According to Raut, information available to him suggested that lawmakers from Maharashtra were being approached with financial offers to change their allegiance. He termed the alleged operation “shocking and disgusting” and accused political rivals of trying to weaken the opposition through monetary inducements.
The developments have sparked concerns within the Uddhav Thackeray camp, which currently has nine Lok Sabha MPs. Under the anti-defection law, at least six MPs would be required to break away and form a separate faction without facing disqualification.
In a bid to counter the speculation, Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders have maintained that the party remains united. Raut recently asserted that all nine MPs were together and dismissed reports of defections as an attempt to create a false narrative.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) parliamentary leader Arvind Sawant has reportedly written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, urging him not to recognise any separate faction or merger claim by dissident MPs while the dispute over the “real Shiv Sena” remains pending before the Supreme Court.
Speaking on Operation Tiger, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Anil Desai said the party had called for a parliamentary meeting. “We are having continuous discussions. Every MP is saying they are with us… Our MPs have faith in Sanjay Raut. We have called a parliamentary party meeting and every MP must attend,” he told PTI.
