Operation Tiger Explained: Decline of UBT Influence and Shift to Hindutva

Pratap Saranik clarified that “Operation Tiger” should not be mistaken for a numbered or formal campaign. Instead, it represents a series of engagements with UBT lawmakers who feel the party has drifted away from the Hindutva doctrine that Balasaheb Thackeray originally espoused.

He reminded readers that the UBT’s alliance with the Congress in 2019 marked a departure from its core Hindu nationalist stance, prompting a loss of credibility among its base. According to the minister, recent defections are a natural consequence of that ideological drift.

Saranik warned that if the UBT does not return to its Hindutva roots, it will continue to lose relevance in Maharashtra’s political landscape. He urged the party to reassess its priorities before more legislators abandon the fold.