New Delhi, June 17 (IANS) The Shiv Sena(UBT) Rajya Sabha member Sanjay Raut on Wednesday launched a scathing attack on the ruling Mahayuti alliance, alleging that a massive horse-trading operation -- dubbed "Operation Tiger" -- is underway to slice away opposition lawmakers ahead of the Maharashtra legislature's upcoming monsoon session.  Flanked by only three of the party's nine newly elected Lok Sabha MPs -- Arvind Sawant (Mumbai South), Anil Desai (Mumbai South Central), and Rajabhau Waje (Nashik) -- Raut, in a high-voltage press conference, attempted to project a defiant front against intense speculation that a significant chunk of Uddhav Thackeray's legislative flock is on the verge of defecting to the Chief Minister Eknath Shinde-led faction.

Raut claimed that opposition MPs are being offered staggering sums to switch sides, claiming that chartered flights were prepared to ferry dissident lawmakers. “I have solid information that Rs 15 crore each was being delivered to MPs as an advance. Charter flights were kept ready at three locations, including Nanded and Pune, to bring them to Delhi. But let me clear one thing: 'Operation Tiger' is not going to be that easy. Breaking the Shiv Sena(UBT) is impossible because we are the real tigers,” he remarked. Raut dismissed rumours that six to seven UBT MPs had already arrived in Delhi to submit a breakaway letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.

He asserted that a "false narrative" was being orchestrated by the BJP and the Shinde camp to destabilise the party's morale ahead of the June 19 Foundation Day celebrations. Addressing the rumoured dissidents directly, Raut issued a stern warning, reminding them of the ground-level backing that secured their recent electoral victories under the Mashaal (Flaming Torch) symbol. Raut revealed that during an internal party review meeting headed by Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, all elected representatives had sworn absolute loyalty. "Our MPs explicitly took oaths in the name of Saibaba, Tulja Bhavani, Balasaheb Thackeray, and their own families, promising they would never betray the mandate," he disclosed.

According to Raut, only four Lok Sabha MPs were physically present at the June 14 meeting: Arvind Sawant, Rajabhau Waje, Anil Desai, and Sanjay Dina Patil. The remaining five MPs attended the proceedings via video conferencing, where they made dramatic, sacred vows of allegiance to Uddhav Thackeray. "One MP took an oath in the name of Sai Baba four separate times. He said: 'I am with you, I swear by Sai Baba; my wife is sick, I swear by Sai Baba; I will come to meet you in two days, I swear by Sai Baba; I will stay with you until I die, I swear by Sai Baba." Another MP swore on his daughter's life, and a third swore by Goddess Bhavani. When people take such sacred oaths, we are forced to trust them,” he explained.

“Balasaheb loved them like sons, and Uddhav ji treated them like brothers, yet they chose to betray them. They are utter cowards; treachery is running in their veins. You were elected entirely on our symbol and through Uddhav Thackeray’s sheer hard work. No one has the right to be dishonest. If what happened in the past is repeated, the people of Maharashtra and the Shiv Sainiks will not remain silent. Whatever street violence has to happen, will happen,” said Raut.

In another explosive revelation, Raut alleged that the ruling alliance was weaponising active legal cases to psychologically coerce MPs into switching sides. He specifically named Osmanabad MP Omraje Nimbalkar. “MP Omraje Nimbalkar’s father’s murder trial is currently underway, and the verdict is expected soon. He was explicitly given an offer: 'If you want this judicial verdict to swing in your favour, switch over to our party.' This is the level of pressure being applied,” he noted.Raut dared, "If anyone wants to go, they must first resign from their parliamentary seats, sacrifice their posts, and face the electorate again. The people of Maharashtra are watching, and they will not stay silent this time."

Despite Raut's fierce posturing, the visual reality of the press conference added fuel to the political fire. With only Sawant, Desai, and Waje standing by his side, the absence of the remaining five Lok Sabha MPs did little to fully quieten the rumours. The crisis stems from growing internal friction within the UBT faction, with sections of the leadership allegedly disgruntled over the expanding administrative control wielded by Aaditya Thackeray.

While MP Rajabhau Waje clarified to reporters that his presence in Delhi was strictly for scheduled parliamentary committee meetings, the Shinde faction claimed the structural shift is already finalised. Shinde-led Sena MLA Kripal Tumane fuelled the fire earlier in the day, claiming, “The final deal is done. At least 16 MLAs and 7 MPs from Uddhav ji's side are in direct contact with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Only the formal date of execution remains."

To legally guard against a split, Shiv Sena(UBT) group leader Arvind Sawant and Chief Whip Anil Desai confirmed they have officially written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, preemptively alerting the secretariat of unauthorised anti-party movements. The party has also issued a strict legislative whip mandating the attendance of all parliamentary members for an emergency meeting on Thursday. With the historic 60th anniversary of the Shiv Sena's founding just 48 hours away on June 19, the political theatre in Delhi indicated that the battle for the legacy of Balasaheb Thackeray has escalated into a ruthless war of attrition.

--IANS