The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) is grappling with a potential fracture as six of its nine Lok Sabha members have petitioned the Speaker to be recognized as a distinct group. By crossing the two-thirds threshold required by India’s Anti-Defection Law, these lawmakers appear poised to bypass disqualification and align themselves with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena, which is currently part of the BJP-led government in Maharashtra. In response, the party leadership has issued a formal whip, ordering all nine MPs to attend an emergency meeting in Delhi where Uddhav Thackeray is expected to intervene and address the dissent.

This move follows months of speculation regarding the BJP’s efforts to bolster the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) parliamentary strength. The ruling coalition is reportedly seeking to reach a two-thirds majority of 362 seats to facilitate the passage of significant legislative agendas, such as the Uniform Civil Code and the Women’s Reservation Act. While the NDA currently holds 293 seats, the addition of these six rebels—following similar political realignments in recent years—underscores a calculated strategy to consolidate power. Sanjay Raut, a prominent Thackeray aide, has fiercely condemned the development, labeling it "Operation Tiger" and alleging that the BJP is using financial inducements to fracture the opposition party from within.