Shinde Teases ‘Breaking News’, Fadnavis Says ‘Operation Successful’ As Nimbalkar Joins Sena | Watch

Last Updated:June 21, 2026, 22:04 IST

Shinde alleged that Nimbalkar had been "humiliated and abused by the other faction" and indicated that further developments were likely.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday hinted at more defections from the Shiv Sena (UBT), declaring that “Operation Tiger" was progressing successfully amid the deepening crisis in Uddhav Thackeray’s camp.

“Operation is successful, don’t worry," Fadnavis said ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly’s three-week monsoon session beginning Monday in Mumbai.

Fadnavis made the remarks during a press conference on the eve of Maharashtra Legislature Monsoon Session 2026 at Saharayadri Guest House in Mumbai. The event was also attended by Deputy CM Eknath Shinde.

The remarks came shortly after Deputy Chief Minister Eknath 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.

Later in the day, Nimbalkar announced that he would join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, saying a decision had been taken after consultations with supporters and local party workers.

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?"

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

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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