Senior functionaries in the Congress and NCP (SP) in Maharashtra, who expressed fears that the BJP may attempt to split their parties, said none of their MPs or MLAs would defect.
The opposition has claimed that the BJP and the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena are executing ‘Operation Tiger’ to engineer a second split within former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray’s party. Speculation about the breakup became real on Tuesday night when six MPs of Uddhav’s party rushed to Delhi. These rebel MPs are likely to form a separate group after breaking ties with Uddhav’s party and the group is expected to join the NDA.
MVA allies alleged that the BJP is engineering splits in the opposition parties by misusing agencies and through money power. Former chief minister and senior Congress member Prithviraj Chavan said, “The last time Shiv Sena split, there were claims that Rs 50 crore was given to each Sena member. This time, I do not have an idea about how much was given (to the rebels) to leave the party.”
He claimed that members of the opposition are either being offered money or threatened with ED and CBI raids. “The BJP is not interested in governance. Its single-point agenda is to split other parties to remain in power,” Chavan added.
Congress performed well in Maharashtra in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when it won 13 of the 48 seats. However, after witnessing the political turmoil within Shiv Sena (UBT), its leadership feels that similar attempts will be made to get its MPs to defect.
Former state Congress chief Nana Patole said, “Instead of governing, the BJP has looted the country. Now it is using the same black money to destroy democracy by trying to end parties in the opposition.”
Amid speculation about the Mahayuti approaching some MPs of Sharad Pawar-led NCP, party functionaries claimed that nobody from their group will defect. The party has eight MPs. State NCP (SP) chief Shashikant Shinde said, “The BJP will make similar attempts against other opposition parties. However, our party remains intact. No MP or MLA will leave.”
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