Son With Thackeray But Father With Shinde? Ashtikars Add New Twist To Uddhav Sena Crisis

Last Updated:June 17, 2026, 19:46 IST

Amid Operation Tiger and Sena split: Krushna Patil Ashtikar is MVA candidate from Nanded for Thursday's MLC election. His father is speculated to be among six MPs who may defect

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Krushna Patil Ashtikar on Wednesday said he was with party president Uddhav Thackeray even though suspense remains about his father, MP Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar’s plan, amid a strong buzz about a split in the party.

Krushna Patil Ashtikar is the candidate of the opposition’s Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance from Nanded for Thursday’s election to the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

What Krushna Patil Ashtikar said

Krushna Patil Ashtikar released a video statement clarifying that he is a “true Shiv Sainik of Uddhav Thackeray". He emphasised that he stands solidly within the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance with no room for ambiguity.

“I was with the Aghadi (MVA) yesterday and I am with them today and tomorrow. I am a Shiv Sainik (Shiv Sena worker) of Uddhav Thackeray. There is no room for doubt when it comes to me. I am standing strongly as a candidate in the election fray," he said in a video statement.

When asked what would be the stand of the MVA voters (members of local self-government bodies) in Thursday’s Council election if Nagesh Patil Ashtikar switched loyalties, Congress MP from Nanded, Ravindra Chavan, said there would be a meeting of MVA leaders and a decision would be taken.

Operation Tiger

The statement comes during widespread political speculation in Maharashtra regarding an alleged defection wave dubbed ‘Operation Tiger’.

Reports emerged that six out of nine Lok Sabha MPs from the Shiv Sena (UBT), including Krushna’s father, Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, were planning to break away to align with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s faction and the NDA.

Speculation intensified after five MPs skipped an in-person emergency meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray at his residence, Matoshree.

What the father said

MP Nagesh Patil Ashtikar dismissed the narratives of a split, explaining that his absence from Mumbai was because he was occupied managing his son’s Legislative Council election campaign. He reiterated that he attended Thackeray’s meeting virtually and remains fully aligned with the party.

Krushna Patil Ashtikar explicitly called the rumours of him or his family shifting support to the NDA “mere political fabrications" meant to create confusion right before the MLC polling.

With PTI 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 india Son With Thackeray But Father With Shinde? Ashtikars Add New Twist To Uddhav Sena Crisis

Read More