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Shinde alleged that Nimbalkar had been “humiliated and abused by the other faction” and indicated that further developments were likely.
CM Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde during the press conference in Mumbai. (Image: X)
Three political developments unfolded almost simultaneously in Maharashtra on Sunday. While Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Omraje Nimbalkar announced in Pune that he was joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, addressing a press conference in Mumbai, told reporters that they would soon get “breaking news”.
Moments later, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis added: “Operation is successful”, remarks that are likely to intensify speculation about further defections from the Uddhav Thackeray camp.
This comes ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly’s three-week monsoon session beginning Monday in Mumbai. Fadnavis and Shinde made the remarks during a press conference at Saharayadri Guest House in Mumbai.
‘Nimbalkar Abused By Other Faction’, Alleges Shinde
Shinde suggested that more leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction could switch sides. “Soon you will get breaking news,” Shinde said, referring to Dharashiv MP Omraje Nimbalkar’s decision to join the Shiv Sena faction led by him. Shinde alleged that Nimbalkar had been “humiliated and abused by the other faction” and indicated that further developments were likely.
Big BreakingOM RAJE NIMBALKAR HAS JUST DECLARED HES FIRM ON HIS DECISION OF BEING WITH @mieknathshinde
Already Ashtikar has gone vocal on social media.
Sanjay Deshmukh to make a formal announcement in his constituency tomorrow
Operation Tiger – A reality !!! pic.twitter.com/BQVMYGbQ7Q
— 🦏 Payal M (@payalmehta100) June 21, 2026
At roughly the same time, Nimbalkar announced in Pune that he would join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, saying a decision had been taken after consultations with supporters and local party workers. Breaking his silence on the rebellion, Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil Ashtikar also confirmed that he had crossed over to the Shinde camp, claiming that he and other dissident MPs had “not gone anywhere” until June 18 but changed their minds after certain remarks were made against them, in an apparent reference to Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut.
CM Fadnavis also reacted to Uddhav Thackeray’s offer to resign as the chief of his faction amid the ongoing political crisis. “What has remained in that party? When he left the ideology of Shiv Sena, people who felt that they should still stick with the original ideology of Sena joined Eknath Shinde… Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena is Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Eknath Shinde is taking ahead the legacy of Balasaheb,” the CM said.
Meanwhile, Eknath Shinde said, “Nothing remains in that party now; what is the use of resigning now?”
Earlier in the day, rebel Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Nagesh Patil Ashtikar broke his silence on the rebellion brewing within the party, claiming that he and other dissident MPs had no plans to leave until June 18 but changed course after remarks made against them by the party leadership, in an apparent reference to Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut. The Hingoli MP also confirmed that he had joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, becoming one of the first rebel parliamentarians to publicly acknowledge crossing over amid the deepening crisis in Uddhav Thackeray’s camp.
What Is ‘Operation Tiger’?
‘Operation Tiger’ is being seen as an effort by the Shinde camp to engineer fresh defections from Shiv Sena (UBT), four years after the 2022 rebellion led by Shinde split the party and toppled the Maha Vikas Aghadi government headed by Uddhav Thackeray. The Election Commission subsequently recognised Shinde’s faction as the official Shiv Sena and allotted it the party’s traditional bow-and-arrow symbol.
The latest political churn intensified after only three of Shiv Sena (UBT)’s nine Lok Sabha MPs attended a parliamentary party meeting in Delhi last week, fuelling speculation of another split. On Friday, Uddhav Thackeray offered to step down as party president if party workers desired a change in leadership, even as he asserted that he remained prepared to face any challenge with the support of Shiv Sainiks.
Backing Shinde, Fadnavis said those committed to the ideology of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray had already joined the Deputy Chief Minister’s camp. “Balasaheb’s Shiv Sena is Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena. Eknath Shinde is taking ahead the legacy of Balasaheb,” he said.
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Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish…Read More
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