5 Sena UBT MPs skip meeting with Uddhav Thackeray, sparks defection buzz

The absent lawmakers—Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, and Nagesh Patil Ashtikar—prompted immediate speculation of a renewed split. While the UBT camp quickly claimed that the missing MPs attended the session virtually, insiders revealed that Thackeray only managed to speak directly with Ashtikar.

In Short

• Sena UBT said the missing MPs joined online, but insiders disputed that claim
• Uddhav Thackeray reportedly spoke directly only with Nagesh Patil Ashtikar during briefing
• He has called the five lawmakers for a mandatory meeting at Matoshree on Monday

A major political storm has erupted in Maharashtra after five out of nine Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs skipped a crucial unity meeting called by Thackeray at his residence, Matoshree, triggering intense defection rumours.

The absent lawmakers—Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Omraje Nimbalkar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, and Nagesh Patil Ashtikar—prompted immediate speculation of a renewed split. While the UBT camp quickly claimed that the missing MPs attended the session virtually, insiders revealed that Thackeray only managed to speak directly with Ashtikar.

To dispel rumours of an opposition-led ‘Operation Tiger,’ Thackeray has now issued a strict ultimatum, summoning the five absent MPs for a mandatory face-to-face meeting at Matoshree within the next two days. During the initial briefing, he urged his remaining cadre to aggressively target the government over rising inflation and farmer loan waivers.

Adding fuel to the fire, Yavatmal-Washim MP Sanjay Deshmukh was spotted in Delhi meeting with Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav of the rival Eknath Shinde faction. Deshmukh hurriedly called Thackeray to clarify that the meeting was strictly non-political, revolving around college-related permissions in his constituency.

The political rhetoric has since escalated into a sharp war of words. Dismissing any threat of rebellion, UBT leader Sanjay Raut mocked the opposition, declaring that ‘Operation Tiger’ had completely failed and threatened an aggressive ‘Operation Wolf’ in retaliation.

Conversely, Shinde-faction Minister Sanjay Shirsat took a sharp dig at the Thackeray camp. Shirsat claimed that the UBT faction is crumbling entirely from within due to a profound lack of internal trust, making any external operation by the Mahayuti alliance completely unnecessary.

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