The current turmoil in Maharashtra politics is not merely a case of six MPs switching sides; it is a new chapter in the battle that began with the split of the Shiv Sena in 2022. First, let us clarify that these six MPs did not join the BJP directly; instead, they left Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) to join Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, which is already an ally of the BJP and the NDA. The first chapter began with the rebellion of 2022. In June 2022, Eknath Shinde rebelled along with dozens of Shiv Sena MLAs, alleging that Uddhav Thackeray had compromised Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva ideology by forming an alliance with the Congress and the NCP. Subsequently, the Maha Vikas Aghadi government collapsed, and Shinde became Chief Minister with the BJP's support. The second chapter involved the battle for the party name and election symbol. A legal dispute ensued over which faction was the "real" Shiv Sena; the Election Commission eventually awarded the Shiv Sena name and the 'Bow and Arrow' symbol to the Shinde faction. Uddhav Thackeray was forced to adopt a new name, Shiv Sena (UBT), and a new election symbol, further escalating tensions between the two factions. The third chapter unfolded during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the Uddhav Thackeray faction performed better than expected, securing nine seats in Parliament, whereas the Shinde faction achieved relatively less success. While the Uddhav faction felt the public was on their side, the Shinde faction continued to focus on strengthening its organization. The fourth chapter saw the launch of "Operation Tiger." In June 2024, reports emerged that several MPs from the Uddhav faction were in contact with Shinde; Shinde's supporters dubbed this campaign "Operation Tiger." On June 17, six MPs initiated the process of forming a separate group and met with the Lok Sabha Speaker. Subsequently, on June 22, all six MPs formally joined the Shinde faction. Describing this move as a "sixer" (a major score), Shinde stated that his Shiv Sena was expanding. Regarding the MPs who left the Uddhav faction (UBT), prominent names include Omprakash Rajenimbalkar and Nagesh Patil. Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Dina Patil, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, and Sanjay Deshmukh—along with Ashtikar—left the Uddhav faction to join the Shinde faction. The MPs also explained their reasons for leaving; according to reports, the rebel MPs stated that the party leadership was not communicating with them, development work in their constituencies was being hampered, and certain leaders had gained undue dominance within the organization. They felt their political future would be more secure with the Shinde faction. Meanwhile, the Uddhav faction alleges that the MPs were poached through the politics of power and coercion. The BJP's name has also surfaced in this context; although the MPs did not join the BJP directly, the Shinde faction is part of the NDA and governs alongside the BJP. Consequently, the opposition accuses the BJP of weakening opposition parties from behind the scenes. On social media and political platforms, this is being described as a new version of "Operation Lotus," though the BJP has consistently denied these allegations. There are five major reasons behind this massive upheaval in Maharashtra:

1. Six out of nine MPs from the Uddhav faction left, severely diminishing its parliamentary strength.
2. This marks the second major split Uddhav Thackeray has faced since 2022.
3. There is now speculation about a potential split among the MLAs as well.
4. The balance of power could shift ahead of the upcoming local body and Mumbai municipal corporation elections.
5. This battle is no longer just about seats; it has become a contest over the claim to Balasaheb Thackeray's political legacy.

What might happen next? Political analysts suggest the Shinde faction could attempt to bring more leaders into its fold. Meanwhile, Uddhav Thackeray is holding emergency meetings to save the organization and is striving to keep the party cadre united. Further major upheavals in Maharashtra's politics could be witnessed in the coming months. In short, this dispute is not merely about the departure of six MPs; it is considered the most significant parliamentary blow in the Shinde-versus-Uddhav conflict that began in 2022—a conflict that has once again brought Maharashtra's politics to a boiling point.