After the split, there is a falling out between the newly inducted Shiv Sena and Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut. File. | Photo credit: ANI

A war of words broke out between the newly inducted Shiv Sena Lok Sabha members and Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders. This is within a day of the formal announcement of six MPs switching from the Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Shiv Sena. Mumbai North East MP Sanjay Dina Patil has alleged that he paid the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership to get his Lok Sabha ticket.

He also alleged that the Shiv Sena (UBT) used his arm to fire against Uddhav Thackeray’s cousin Raj Thackeray during the Mumbai municipal elections. He said that on the orders of the party’s top leadership, he spent several million crowns in the elections. He himself threatened to beat people up if they tried to harm him or his family. This was in retaliation to a call by several Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders calling for violence against the poached MPs.

In response, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut questioned Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis about the law and order situation in the state and dared Sanjay Dina Patil to confront him without police security cover.

The development is related to ‘Operation Tiger’, a process that saw a vertical split in the Shiv Sena UBT. Six of its nine Lok Sabha MPs formally announced to join Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena on 22 June. There followed days of speculation about the Thackerays poaching lawmakers. Eknath Shinde claimed that the party upheavals will continue even after that. Shortly after the defection, the newly inducted six MPs challenged a leader from the Shiv Sena (UBT).

On Tuesday (June 23, 2026), Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said, “This is a government of people throwing money to buy people. Gokul Gite, who defeated the Shiv Sena candidate in the MLC election on Monday, bought Eknath Shinde within two hours of his victory. Even though Mr. Shinde’s candidate was defeated by BJP Gite’s support.”

Alleging that six defected MPs left Shiv Sena (UBT) for personal monetary gains and kickbacks, he said Shiv Sena (UBT) has paid respect to all MPs. “What does respect mean? We didn’t give them respect? We gave them respect. But now their respect is ₹ 50 crore or ₹ 75 crore. The MPs claimed that they switched due to lack of funds. But the numbers have come out now. Their allocated funds are yet to be utilised. Per MP, ₹ 16 crore out of the ₹ 25 crore spent remains unused on Shirdi’s MP of ₹ 5 crore. So they actually get contracts worth ₹ 200 crore or more.That’s their respect.

He alleged that the six MPs were threatened and blackmailed to join Eknath Shinde’s party. “Earlier they received ₹15 crore and on Monday (June 22, 2026) ₹35 crore before appearing for the press conference,” he said, adding that details of the financial trail have been shared with the enforcement directorate.

Refuting Sanjay Dina Patil’s claim that his daughter was given a Municipal Corporation ticket to deny Raj Thackeray’s party’s claim to the seat, he said it was Mr. Patil who made it a prestige issue.

Sanjay Dina Patil told reporters that he switched parties because the party leadership did not take note of his complaints of unfair treatment. Accusing the party of not allowing its own leadership to become stronger, he said, “If I had not gone, the quorum would not have been completed. I went because they (Shiv Sena UBT) don’t want powerful people. They want slaves. I have no problem with Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray,” he told reporters.

Published – 24 Jun 2026 01:40 IST