Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Monday accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of orchestrating a conspiracy called 'Operation Tiger' to prevent Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis from emerging as a prime ministerial candidate. Speaking at a party event in Mumbai, Thackeray claimed that Shah manipulated political events to sideline Fadnavis within the BJP, ensuring he would not challenge Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.
Thackeray's allegations
Thackeray asserted that 'Operation Tiger' was a covert plan devised by Shah to keep Fadnavis out of the PM race. "Amit Shah is a master of political games. He engineered a situation where Fadnavis, despite being a prominent leader, was deliberately kept away from the national spotlight," Thackeray said. He further claimed that Shah used his influence to control party nominations and key appointments to weaken Fadnavis's standing.
According to Thackeray, the operation involved manipulating the 2019 Maharashtra political crisis, where Fadnavis was briefly sworn in as Chief Minister with NCP's Ajit Pawar, only to resign within days. "That was a scripted drama to tarnish Fadnavis's image and make him appear unreliable," Thackeray alleged.
Background of tensions
Fadnavis, a two-time former Chief Minister of Maharashtra, has long been seen as a potential national leader. However, his ambitions within the BJP have been checked by the party's central leadership, which has consistently backed Modi for the top post. Thackeray's remarks come amid ongoing political rivalry in Maharashtra, where his Shiv Sena (UBT) is in opposition to the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance.
Political analysts note that Thackeray's accusations are part of a broader narrative to discredit the BJP's internal democracy. "The claim of 'Operation Tiger' is unsubstantiated but reflects the deep factionalism within Maharashtra politics," said Dr. Sunil Awsarmal, a political commentator.
BJP's response
The BJP dismissed Thackeray's allegations as baseless. Party spokesperson Keshav Upadhyay said, "Uddhav Thackeray is frustrated after losing power. His conspiracy theories are a desperate attempt to stay relevant. Devendra Fadnavis is a respected leader, and there is no operation against him."
Fadnavis himself has not commented on the allegations. However, sources close to him indicate that he remains focused on his duties as Deputy CM and is not actively pursuing the PM post.
Impact on Maharashtra politics
The accusation adds another layer of complexity to Maharashtra's volatile political landscape. The Shiv Sena (UBT) has been critical of the BJP's central leadership, accusing it of undermining regional allies. Thackeray's 'Operation Tiger' claim is likely to intensify the war of words between the two parties ahead of the 2024 state assembly elections.
Political observers believe that while the allegation may not have immediate electoral impact, it could deepen the rift within the ruling alliance. "Thackeray is trying to drive a wedge between Fadnavis and Shah. Whether it works remains to be seen," said Professor Ramesh Patil, a political scientist at Mumbai University.
