Amid growing speculation that six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs may quit the party, the party has convened a meeting of its parliamentary board on June 18 and written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla seeking exclusive recognition as the party’s authorised faction in Parliament. This comes even as senior leaders on Wednesday (June 17, 2026) claimed that they have no confirmed information about the whereabouts or intentions of the MPs at the centre of the rumours.

At a press conference held in New Delhi, Shiv Sena UBT MPs Sanjay Raut, Arvind Sawant, and Anil Desai responded to the media about the speculations on ‘Operation Tiger’.

Mr. Raut claimed that Maharashtra’s MPs are being bought for ₹50 crore and that they sat in a plane only after they received ₹15 crore. “For now, we are all together, rest I don’t know,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sushama Andhare claimed that the leaders were accompanied to New Delhi by the leaders of Shiv Sena.

“We don’t know where they are at this point. All these MPs were elected on the face of the undivided Shiv Sena founder, Bal Thackeray, and the hard work of Sena (UBT) chief, Uddhav Thackeray. They were elected by voters of the Shiv Sena (UBT). Similar things are happening, be it in Bengal, there is no point in fighting elections,” Mr. Raut said, adding that “this time Maharashtra’s people won’t spare the traitors”. 

Speculation that six MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT) are likely to quit the party and form a separate group has been circulating for some time now. These leaders were absent from the meeting at Mr. Thackeray’s residence. The list of MPs includes Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, and Omraje Nimbalkar.

“Being cautions”

Mr. Desai and Mr. Sawant, at the same press held in New Delhi, also said they are being cautious and pursuing the matter legally to avoid the situation that occurred during the last split in 2022. 

Highlighting the letter he submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his capacity as the leader of the party in the Lower House, Mr. Sawant said: “This time we are being cautious. We have appealed to the Speaker not to recognise any separate identity, status, facilities, privileges or recognition to any faction or rebel group claiming affiliation with the party.” 

In the letter submitted on June 16, Mr Sawant mentioned, “At the outset, I would like to emphasise that the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) is one political party and remains so in the eyes of law. The parliamentary party owes its existence entirely to, and functions as a constituent part of, the political party. The constitutional framework does not envisage the existence of multiple competing formations claiming to represent the same political party within the House.” 

Stating the constitution provisions, he added, “The recognition of a separate group or faction or merger with another political party of the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) within the Lok Sabha is unsupported by the constitutional framework governing political parties and legislative parties. Following the Constitution (Ninety-first Amendment) Act, 2003, which abolished the split provision, the Constitution recognises only one limited exception to disqualification on account of political realignment, namely a merger within the meaning of Paragraph 4 of the Tenth Schedule.”

“MPs are pressured” 

Mr. Raut also pointed out that people in power are also using pressure to force MPs to resign. Citing the example of MP Om Raje Nimbalkar, he said: “He was threatened with the court verdict of his father Pawanraje Nimbalkar’s murder case.”

The case was heard on June 16, with the court ordered to pronounce judgment on June 20. “He was pressured by asking if you need a decision in your favour, then sign and come with us. Also, the verdict was pushed ahead,” Mr. Raut added. 

Meanwhile, in a post on X, Mr. Raut alleged that two MPs were flown to Delhi from Nanded on a chartered aircraft. “A chartered plane lands at Nanded Airport, under the guise of Operation Tiger, two MPs take off. They didn’t even have the means to travel by rickshaw. Thanks to Thackeray’s name, their worth has risen to the level of flying in private jets. An account of every single thing will be taken. What is this if not the escape of cowardly foxes?” he said.

On Tuesday (June 16, 2026), he claimed that ₹15 crores has been given to buy each MP in Maharashtra. “Apna Sapna money money (The dream is only money), the information of Maharashtra MPs to receive an advance of Rs.15 crore tonight is extremely shocking and disgusting,” Mr. Raut said on X, tagging Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. 

“These days will too pass. For that, we need to make certain decisions and take efforts to improve things. Don’t be scared, things will happen if they are meant to happen,” said Bhaskar Jadhav, another Shiv Sena (UBT) leader.