Eknath Shinde Rejects Rumors of UBT MPs Poaching Plot

Speculation has gripped Maharashtra politics over alleged secret overtures from Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena group to MPs from the Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray (UBT) faction. Dubbed 'Operation Tiger,' the buzz suggested covert meetings to engineer high-profile defections. Breaking his silence, Shinde labeled the reports as 'completely false and misleading.' He confirmed no such interactions occurred, calling the stories a deliberate attempt to create confusion. 'For over a year and a half, these unfounded claims keep resurfacing without any truth,' he noted. The Deputy CM pointed out the recurring nature of such rumors, designed solely to stir controversy. He made a direct plea to journalists: avoid amplifying unverified sensationalism and commit to fact-based coverage that serves the public interest. Despite lingering discussions in political corridors, Shinde's statement has brought clarity. There's zero evidence of UBT lawmakers contemplating a jump, positioning this as mere hearsay. Maharashtra's power dynamics, marked by the 2022 Shiv Sena split, continue to evolve. Shinde's group, backed by the BJP, holds firm in government, while UBT pushes back through street protests and legal battles. This latest rumor underscores the high-stakes game of loyalty and ambition. Observers watch closely as assembly polls loom, wondering if realignments are on the horizon or if Shinde's dismissal marks the end of this chapter.