Eknath Shinde Just Got 6 More MPs: BJP Or Sena, Who Will Be The ‘Big Brother’ Now?

Last Updated:June 22, 2026, 19:13 IST

Eknath Shinde's move is set to have profound implications for the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra, say observers

Eknath Shinde’s successful orchestration of ‘Operation Tiger’, which saw six Lok Sabha MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray faction defect to his camp, could significantly alter the balance of power between the Shiv Sena and the BJP, according to political observers.

By meeting the critical two-thirds threshold to avoid disqualification under the anti-defection law, Shinde has expanded his Lok Sabha strength from seven to 13 MPs.

This manoeuvre has profound implications for the ruling Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra and its relationship with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Numberspeak: Shift in coalition leverage

Shinde’s faction now holds 13 Lok Sabha seats, surpassing the BJP’s tally of 9 in Maharashtra. The Shiv Sena has become the fourth-largest constituent of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, enhancing Shinde’s nationwide bargaining power, according to NDTV and other reports.

Analysts say the expanded parliamentary bloc could strengthen Shinde’s position in negotiations within the NDA and on future legislative matters.

Seat-sharing battles

Securing the support of these MPs reportedly came with a condition that they be renominated for the 2029 general election. Armed with this growth, Shinde’s Shiv Sena is poised to claim up to 25 seats for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Tensions could intensify over ticket distribution as both parties seek dominance in overlapping traditional constituencies, political analysts say.

Dilution of BJP’s upper hand?

Following state leadership distributions, the BJP operated with clear upper-hand dominance over state administration.

Shinde’s sudden parliamentary leverage allows him to challenge the senior-partner dynamic, demand better portfolio allocations, and counter internal narratives of the BJP swallowing its allies, according to reports.

Legitimisation of the ‘real’ Shiv Sena

The support of a majority of parliamentary representatives reinforces Shinde’s claim over Bal Thackeray’s ideological legacy.

This legal and structural absorption makes it harder for the BJP to bypass Shinde or engineer a future reconciliation with the Uddhav Thackeray faction.

With agency inputs

About the Author

Manjiri Joshi

At the news desk for 20 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci...Read More

News explainers Eknath Shinde Just Got 6 More MPs: BJP Or Sena, Who Will Be The ‘Big Brother’ Now?

Read More