14 June,2026 06:24 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Addressing reporters after the meeting at Thackeray`s residence, `Matoshree`, in Mumbai, Raut said four MPs attended in person while five joined via video-conferencing. FILE PIC
Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Sanjay Raut on Sunday asserted that all nine Shiv Sena (UBT) lawmakers participated in a routine meeting chaired by party chief Uddhav Thackeray and strongly dismissed speculation about the party's parliamentarians defecting to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena amid reports of 'Operation Tiger'.
Addressing reporters after the meeting at Thackeray's residence, 'Matoshree', in Mumbai, Raut said four MPs attended in person while five joined via video-conferencing.
"Four MPs were physically present in the meeting, and five of our MPs participated in this meeting through video conferencing. In this way, nine MPs were present in today's meeting with Uddhav Ji. Aditya Sahab was also there, Vinayak Raut was also there -- all these nine MPs joined today's meeting and a good conversation took place," stated the Rajya Sabha MP.
He clarified that the meeting was a regular organisational exercise held once a month.
"Actually, this is a routine meeting; once a month, all of us MPs meet at Matoshree, and Uddhav Ji guides us. It is a routine meeting, and all MPs participated in it either directly (physically) or through video conferencing," he said.
Raut rejected reports of a possible split and urged people not to spread such rumours.
"So, please stop spreading the rumours that you are spreading," he added.
Reacting to questions about 'Operation Tiger', Raut said: "What Operation Tiger are you asking about? We are all tigers. We are going to launch Operation Wolf...We are not going to be scared. All our MPs and Parliamentary Party is intact, united and strong, and it will continue that way."
The meeting comes amid ongoing political buzz surrounding 'Operation Tiger', with some reports claiming that seven of the nine Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MPs are in touch with the Shinde faction and may switch sides to join the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the Centre.
This political development also comes at a time when the Trinamool Congress is facing an internal crisis, with 20 of its MPs having rebelled against party chief Mamata Banerjee.
(With ANI inputs)
