The ongoing political uncertainty within Shiv Sena (UBT) took a new turn on June 13, as party leader Krushna Patil Ashtikar publicly declared his allegiance to Uddhav Thackeray, even as speculation continued over whether his father, Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar, could be among a group of MPs considering a switch to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s camp.
The development comes at a crucial time for the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), with Krushna Patil Ashtikar contesting the Maharashtra Legislative Council election from Nanded as the alliance’s candidate. The election is scheduled to take place on Thursday and is being closely watched amid reports of unrest within the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.
Seeking to put an end to rumours surrounding his political loyalties, Krushna Patil Ashtikar released a video statement asserting that he remains firmly committed to Uddhav Thackeray and the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance.
“I was with the Aghadi yesterday, I am with the Aghadi today and I will remain with the Aghadi tomorrow. I am a Shiv Sainik of Uddhav Thackeray. There is no room for doubt when it comes to me,” he said.
The MLC candidate further stated that he was contesting the election with full confidence and dismissed any speculation suggesting that he was considering a shift towards the ruling NDA.
His clarification came amid growing political chatter that members of the Ashtikar family could be divided politically, with the son remaining with Uddhav Thackeray while the father explores other options.
Questions have also emerged over how local self-government body members aligned with the Maha Vikas Aghadi would respond if Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar were to switch sides.
Responding to the speculation, Congress MP from Nanded Ravindra Chavan said the alliance leadership would take an appropriate decision if such a situation arose. He indicated that MVA leaders would discuss the matter collectively before deciding on any future course of action.
What is ‘Operation Tiger’?
The controversy comes against the backdrop of what political circles have dubbed “Operation Tiger” an effort to engineer another split within Shiv Sena (UBT).
Reports in recent days have suggested that six of the party’s nine Lok Sabha MPs could be preparing to break away from Uddhav Thackeray and align themselves with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena faction and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Among the names being discussed is that of Hingoli MP Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar, whose absence from an emergency meeting called by Uddhav Thackeray fuelled speculation about his future political plans.
The rumours gained further momentum after five Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs skipped the in-person meeting convened at Thackeray’s residence, Matoshree, leading to fresh questions about the unity of the party’s parliamentary wing.
Amid mounting speculation, Nagesh Patil-Ashtikar has rejected claims that he is part of any rebellion or breakaway group.
The MP clarified that he could not travel to Mumbai because he was busy managing his son’s campaign for the Legislative Council election in Nanded. He also stressed that he had participated in Uddhav Thackeray’s meeting virtually and remained committed to the party.
According to him, reports suggesting an imminent split were being exaggerated and did not reflect the actual situation within the party.
Krushna Patil Ashtikar also directly addressed reports suggesting that members of his family were preparing to join the NDA.
He described such claims as “political fabrications” designed to create confusion ahead of the Legislative Council election and insisted that neither he nor his family had taken any decision to leave the Uddhav Thackeray camp.
Despite these assertions, the political speculation surrounding the Ashtikars has added another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile situation within Shiv Sena (UBT).
Sena (UBT) faces fresh test of unity
The latest controversy comes at a time when Uddhav Thackeray is attempting to prevent another exodus from his party nearly four years after the rebellion led by Eknath Shinde dramatically altered Maharashtra’s political landscape.
With MLC elections underway and rumours of fresh defections refusing to die down, the coming days could prove crucial for Shiv Sena (UBT). Whether the reports of a rebellion materialise or remain mere speculation, the Ashtikar family’s contrasting positions have become symbolic of the uncertainty currently surrounding the party.
