"Who is Tiger?": Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant dismisses Operation Tiger claims, says 'media creating hype'

Shiv Sena UBT MP Arvind Sawant on Wednesday rejected speculation surrounding the alleged Operation Tiger and accused sections of the media of exaggerating reports about a possible split within the Uddhav Thackerayled partyHis remarks came amid continuing political uncertainty over reports that a section of Shiv Sena UBT MPs could break away and align with the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena The party leadership however has repeatedly maintained that no official split has taken placeSawant questions Operation Tiger narrativeSpeaking to ANI Sawant sought to downplay the significance of the phrase Operation Tiger questioning the basis of the ongoing political discourseWho is the tiger he asked while arguing that media attention was being disproportionately focused on speculation rather than issues of public importanceSawant said several pressing national issues deserved greater attention and suggested that the debate surrounding a possible split within the party was being amplified unnecessarilyAccording to him the current political discussion has overshadowed more significant concerns affecting governance and democratic institutionsLeader reiterates unity within party ranksSawant asserted that all Shiv Sena UBT MPs had participated in the meeting convened by party chief Uddhav Thackeray on June 14He said four MPs attended the meeting in person while the remaining members joined through video conferencing dismissing suggestions that the absence of some lawmakers indicated dissatisfaction within the partyThe MP argued that the meeting demonstrated continued communication between the leadership and the parliamentary wing despite reports of internal differencesHis comments were aimed at countering speculation that a substantial number of MPs were preparing to leave the partyDefence of Uddhav Thackerays leadershipSawant also defended Uddhav Thackeray and the partys commitment to the ideology of Shiv Sena founder Bal ThackerayHe said the party had played a key role in building the political careers of many leaders who were previously unknown to the public and maintained that Uddhav Thackeray continues to follow the ideological principles laid down by the party founderWithout naming individuals directly Sawant suggested that several leaders who currently hold important positions had risen politically because of opportunities provided by the party leadershipThe comments were widely seen as a response to reports that some MPs may be considering changing political allegianceDefectors should resign first says SawantReiterating the stand taken by several Shiv Sena UBT leaders in recent days Sawant said any elected representative wishing to leave the party should first resign and seek a fresh mandate from votersHe argued that lawmakers elected on the partys symbol have a moral responsibility towards the organisation and its supportersThose who want to leave should resign contest elections again and then return to Parliament he saidSawant further maintained that no leader has the right to betray the party after securing electoral success under its bannerLeadership takes constitutional routeThe remarks come shortly after Sawant Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut and Lok Sabha MP Anil Desai met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to discuss reports of a possible splitThe leaders urged the Speaker to strictly adhere to constitutional provisions if any group seeks recognition as a separate faction within ParliamentThe party has also issued a whip directing all MPs to attend a parliamentary party meeting in New Delhi as it seeks to demonstrate unity and assess support within its ranksPolitical uncertainty persistsMaharashtra politics has been dominated by discussions surrounding the alleged Operation Tiger with reports suggesting that several Shiv Sena UBT MPs may be in contact with leaders from the Eknath Shindeled Shiv SenaThe speculation has revived memories of the 2022 rebellion that split the undivided Shiv Sena and dramatically reshaped the states political landscapeDespite the rumours the Shiv Sena UBT leadership continues to insist that there is no official rebellion and that its MPs remain committed to the party With political activity intensifying in New Delhi the coming days are expected to determine whether the speculation translates into a formal split or remains confined to political conjectureWith inputs from ANI