Two of the six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs, Omraje Nimbalkar from Dharashiv and Sanjay Patil from Mumbai North East, have not signed the letter sent to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking recognition as a separate group, the UBT faction claimed. Patil and Nimbalkar stated they were not in New Delhi on Wednesday, but Shinde Sena sources indicated that 'Operation Tiger'—the process of winning over the six MPs—had been completed, barring a public announcement.
Shinde Sena's Claim of Success
Except for Arvind Sawant and Anil Desai from Mumbai and Rajabhau Waze from Nashik, the other three MPs were now part of the separate group, sources said. However, Nimbalkar said he would clarify his stand after June 20, and Patil, who was in Mumbai, expressed frustration over the speculation. 'I'm tired of this speculation. If something is going to happen, it will happen. There is no point in discussing this. I will not go anywhere for any rebel MPs' list. I've not been invited by Shinde Sena, so why should I go to them? I'm not in touch with other MPs,' Patil said.
UBT Sena's Whip and Allegations
UBT Sena issued a whip for a parliamentary party meeting in Delhi on Thursday to gauge support. The faction hopes more than three MPs attend; if so, it would be a setback for Shinde Sena, as the number of rebel MPs would fall short of the two-thirds requirement for a separate group that merges with another party. Addressing a press conference with just three MPs—Sawant, Desai, and Waze—UBT leader Sanjay Raut alleged pressure on Nimbalkar to join Shinde Sena. Raut claimed that 20 years ago, Nimbalkar's father was killed, and a trial is ongoing. 'If he joins Shinde Sena, he will get relief from court,' Raut alleged, referring to the June 2006 assassination of Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver in Navi Mumbai. A CBI court in Mumbai is scheduled to deliver its verdict on June 20.
Bribery Allegations
Raut further claimed that the MPs were offered Rs 50 crore each, with Rs 15 crore as an advance. In a post on X on Tuesday night tagging Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Raut wrote, 'Apna Sapna Money Money! It's shocking and revolting that Maharashtra MPs are reportedly being offered Rs 15 crore each tonight to switch sides.' Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra responded, 'Rs 15 cr? Saste mein kyo jaa rahe hai? Believe ours got Rs 4cr up front and Rs 1cr a month for next 36 months of term... Honey plus Money.' Raut replied, 'No no - Mahua ji, Minimum Support Price is fixed at Rs 50 crore per MP. Rs 15 crore is just the advance. Frankly, these people aren't even worth Rs 50,000. Their price has only gone up because of the Shiv Sena and TMC brand labels.'
