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Maharashtra BJP person Chandrashekhar Bawankule connected Wednesday (June 17, 2026) asserted that his enactment has thing to bash with immoderate alleged effort to technologist defections from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).
His remarks came against the backdrop of increasing speculation that a conception of Sena (UBT) MPs could interruption distant and signifier a abstracted group.
Sena (UBT) person Sanjay Raut precocious Tuesday (June 16) nighttime claimed that an "advance of Rs 15 crore" was being fixed to "buy MPs from Maharashtra", further fuelling the buzz.
Responding to questions astir the speculation and allegations made by Mr. Raut, Mr. Bawankule told reporters successful Nagpur, "I person nary accusation astir 'Operation Tiger'. I bash not cognize what 'Operation Tiger' is oregon adjacent what it is called. Since I person nary accusation astir it, it would not beryllium due for maine to remark connected the issue."
On Mr. Raut's allegation that the BJP was offering wealth to MPs to power sides, Bawankule asserted his enactment had nary transportation with the matter.
"What transportation does the BJP person with this? We person nary connection. We bash not cognize what 'Operation Tiger' is, who brought it, and wherefore it was brought; we bash not cognize that either. The BJP has nary transportation with it," helium stressed.
The BJP person said decisions regarding governmental parties and their legislators were matters for the respective enactment leaderships.
"(Shiv Sena person and Deputy CM) Eknath Shinde volition instrumentality decisions regarding his enactment and Uddhav Thackeray volition instrumentality decisions regarding his party. Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde cognize what is happening successful their respective parties. The BJP has perfectly nary transportation with this full issue," helium said.
Mr. Bawankule further said attempts to resistance the BJP and its leaders into the contention were unjustified.
Asked astir disapproval that Uddhav Thackeray was incapable to forestall legislators and MPs from leaving his party, Bawankule said the Sena (UBT) main should introspect.
"I deliberation Uddhav Thackeray should negociate his party, and Eknath Shinde should fortify his party. Why MLAs and MPs are leaving Uddhav Thackeray, wherever they are going and what is causing it are matters for him to introspect on. But the BJP has nary transportation with immoderate cognition oregon immoderate effort to technologist a split," helium said.
Referring to Mr. Raut's allegation that legislators were being offered wealth to alteration sides, Bawankule said it was inappropriate to suggest that elected representatives altered their governmental positions solely for fiscal reasons.
"It is not close to allege that an MLA oregon MP changes his basal lone aft taking money. There tin beryllium galore reasons down specified decisions. Instead of making specified allegations, parties should analyse wherefore their MLAs and MPs are leaving," helium said.
Asked astir comments by Shiv Sena MLA Narendra Bhondekar that Eknath Shinde could go Chief Minister if Devendra Fadnavis moved to nationalist politics, Mr. Bawankule said the legislator had simply expressed his idiosyncratic views.
"He has the close to explicit his feelings. But, today, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has received the mandate successful Maharashtra. Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, helium is simply a beardown main curate and is starring the state's improvement agenda," helium said.
On speculation that the BJP could determination Fadnavis to Delhi, Bawankule said the main curate remained focused connected his imaginativeness for Maharashtra.
"Devendra Fadnavis has presented a imaginativeness of a developed Maharashtra by 2047 for the state's 14 crore people. The double-engine authorities is moving towards that goal. I bash not deliberation it is due to sermon the main minister's post. It is not adjacent a taxable for treatment astatine present," helium added.
