Sena (UBT) crisis: Operation successful, says Fadnavis
Amid the buzz over a split in the ranks of Lok Sabha MPs of Shiv Sena (UBT) through “Operation Tiger”, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday said the “operation” has been successful.
His deputy and Shiv Sena president Eknath Shinde said he never leaves an operation incomplete.
Responding to questions over the “Operation Tiger” aimed at securing defections from the Uddhav Thackeray camp, Fadnavis said, “The operation has been successful, and the body is in very good health. There is no need for anyone to worry. Those who need to introspect should do so.”
Shinde, who addressed a joint news conference with Fadnavis, said he didn’t conduct incomplete operations. “Whenever I undertake an operation, I complete it fully. We have already shown it,” he said.
When asked about the status of Operation Tiger, Shinde said, “You will get breaking news soon. The MPs are abused, and then you (Thackeray camp) want them (back). There is a chemical locha.” MPs Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Deshmukh, Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar and Nimbalkar skipped the Sena (UBT) parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on June 17, fuelling speculation that they were on their way to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The Sena (UBT) has nine Lok Sabha members, and the rebel bloc needs at least six MPs — two-thirds of the total strength — to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law.
On Sunday, at least two of the six rebel MPs belonging to the Sena (UBT) confirmed they crossed over to the Shinde camp. Fadnavis said the Shiv Sena, led by Shinde, is carrying forward the legacy of the party founder Bal Thackeray.
“Shiv Sena is not merely a political party. It is Balasaheb Thackeray’s ideology. It is not a legacy of property, but a legacy of ideas. The moment some people abandoned those ideas, those who believed in them chose a different path.
“All those people came together under the leadership of Eknath Shinde to keep Shiv Sena alive and carry forward that ideological legacy. Workers and public representatives who believe in those ideas are continuously coming together under his leadership,” the Chief Minister said.
He advised Uddhav Thackeray to introspect.
“Uddhav ji did not introspect, and this is the consequence. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind now that the Shiv Sena being run by Eknath Shinde is the real Shiv Sena. Balasaheb’s bow-and-arrow symbol is with Eknath Shinde, and he is carrying forward Balasaheb’s ideology,” Fadnavis added.
When asked about the removal of several beneficiaries from the Ladki Bahin scheme, Fadnavis said the initiative was initially launched on the basis of self-certification.
