A war of words has ensued between the newly inducted Shiv Sena Lok Sabha members and the Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders. This is within a day after the formal announcement of six MPs crossing over from Shiv Sena (UBT) to Shiv Sena. Mumbai North-East MP Sanjay Dina Patil claimed that he had paid to the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership to get his Lok Sabha ticket.

He also alleged that the Shiv Sena (UBT) used his shoulder to shoot against Uddhav Thackeray’s cousin Raj Thackeray during the Mumbai municipal elections. He said that he had spent a few crores in the elections at the behest of the topmost party leadership. He threatened to himself beat up people if they tried to harm him or his family. This was in retaliation to a call by a few Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders calling for violence against the poached MPs.

Responding to this, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut questioned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis regarding the law and order situation in the State, and dared Sanjay Dina Patil to face him without his police security cover.

The developments are related to ‘Operation Tiger’, the process whereby a vertical split was caused in the Shiv Sena UBT. Six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs formally announced entering Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on June 22. It followed days of speculations about the poaching of Thackerays’ legislators. Eknath Shinde has claimed that the shocks to the party will continue hereafter as well. Soon after the defection, the newly inducted six MPs have challenged the leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT).

On Tuesday (June 23, 2026), Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “This is a government of people who throw money to buy people over. Gokul Gite, who had defeated Shiv Sena candidate in the MLC election on Monday, was bought over by Eknath Shinde within two hours after his victory. This was despite the fact that Gite had defeated Mr Shinde’s candidate due to the BJP’s support.”

Alleging that the six defected MPs deserted Shiv Sena (UBT) for personal monetary gains and kickbacks, he said, the Shiv Sena (UBT) had given respect to all the MPs. “What does respect mean? Did we not give them respect? We had given them respect. But now, their respect is ₹50 Crore or ₹75 Crore. The MPs had claimed that they switched over because of lack of funds. But the figures have come out now. Their allocated funds are not yet utilised. For one MP, ₹16 Crore remain unutilised. The MP of Shirdi has spent only ₹25 Lakh of the MP fund allocated to him. So what they really mean is that they will now get contractorship. They will get contracts worth ₹200 Crore or more. Their families will get kickbacks. That is their respect,” Mr Raut said.

He claimed that the six MPs were threatened and blackmailed to enter Eknath Shinde’s party. “They were given ₹15 Crore earlier, and ₹35 Crore on Monday (June 22, 2026) before appearing for the press conference,” he said, adding that the details of the financial trail were shared with the Enforcement Directorate.

Refuting Sanjay Dina Patil’s allegation that a Municipal Corporation ticket was given to his daughter to reject the claim of Raj Thackeray’s party over the seat, he said that it was Mr Patil who had turned it into a prestige issue.

Sanjay Dina Patil told reporters that he switched sides since the party leadership failed to take cognisance of his complaints about unfair treatment towards him. Accusing the party of not allowing its own leadership to become stronger, he said, “Had I not gone, the quorum would not have been completed. I went because they [Shiv Sena UBT] don’t want powerful people. They want slaves. i have no problem with Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray,” he told reporters.