17 June,2026 06:43 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray (left) and Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Deputy CM Eknath Shinde. File Pic
Congress leaders on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to weaken Opposition parties to secure the numbers required to pass key Bills in Parliament, amid speculation over "Operation Tiger" and reports of efforts to lure Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) lawmakers into the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The remarks came against the backdrop of political buzz surrounding possible defections from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) camp.
Speaking to reporters, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that the BJP was trying to bring regional parties into its fold to strengthen its position in Parliament.
"The ruling party in the country is trying to break, manipulate, and bring all regional parties to its side because they need to pass two to three bills in the Parliament which could not be passed so far due to lack of numbers," he said.
"They (BJP) will do whatever they want to get the numbers. But all this is not right for democracy," Chowdhury added.
Congress leader Sachin Pilot echoed similar concerns, claiming that the BJP was attempting to establish dominance even in places where it lacked a majority.
"Wherever there is no majority, this (BJP-led) government wants to prove its majority," Pilot said.
Stressing the importance of a strong Opposition, he alleged that efforts were being made to undermine Opposition unity.
"All kinds of efforts are being made to break the unity of the Opposition parties. This is a wrong method, but despite all this, I believe that the Opposition is united and will continue working together under Rahul Gandhi's leadership," Pilot told news agency IANS.
Congress leader Nana Patole also criticised the alleged operation, saying the term "Operation Tiger" was inappropriate.
"The way the media is portraying this as 'Operation Tiger', I believe it is an insult to the tiger itself. What we are witnessing is the outcome of a system that is undermining democracy under the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government," he said.
Drawing parallels with political developments in West Bengal, Patole added, "What happened in West Bengal is being repeated in Maharashtra."
"Rather than calling it 'Operation Tiger', it would be more appropriate to describe it as a movement driven by opportunism," he remarked.
Congress MP Imran Masood accused the BJP-led Centre of suppressing Opposition voices.
"The opposition acts as a mirror for the ruling party, but the government simply does not want to look in it," Masood told IANS.
(With IANS inputs)
