Maharashtra politics is in the headlines these days. State Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde is once again preparing to give a big blow to Uddhav Thackeray. For the last few days, there have been continuous reports that 7 out of 9 Lok Sabha MPs from the Thackeray faction may join Shinde’s army. Leaders of Shinde group are claiming that these MPs are in touch with them and may change sides soon. It has been named Operation Tiger. In such a situation, let us know who are those 7 rebel MPs who can join Shiv Sena.
The MPs of Uddhav Thackeray group whose rebellion is being reported include Omraje Nimbalkar, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh, Sanjay (Bandu) Haribhau Jadhav, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchore. The names of Rajabhau (Parag), Prakash Waje and Sanjay Dina Patil are included.
Omraj Nimbalkar
Omraje Nimbalkar is an MP from Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad) Lok Sabha constituency of Maharashtra and is one of the prominent leaders of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Nimbalkar is counted among the influential leaders of Marathwada region. Earlier he was active in Zilla Parishad and local politics.
political journey
In the year 2019, he was elected Lok Sabha MP from Osmanabad (now Dharashiv) for the first time. Reached the Lok Sabha in 2024 by winning for the second consecutive time. In the 2024 elections, he retained his seat by defeating Mahayuti candidate and former minister Archana Patil. This contest was included in the most discussed elections of Marathwada.
After the split in Shiv Sena, Omraj Nimbalkar stood firmly with Uddhav Thackeray. He is considered the strong face of the Uddhav faction in Marathwada. Along with this, he is also included among Thackeray’s trusted leaders. Nimbalkar has been raising issues related to farmers, drought, water crisis of Marathwada, unemployment and regional development in Parliament. He is considered to have a good support base in Dharashiv and Marathwada. Presently he is one of the most influential MPs of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) in the Lok Sabha and has an important place in the politics of Marathwada.
Nagesh Patil Ashtikar
Nagesh Patil Ashtikar is the MP of Uddhav Thackeray group from Nanded Hingoli Lok Sabha seat. Nagesh Ashtikar’s name has also come up amid discussions about Operation Tiger in Maharashtra. In recent months, there were reports of his meeting with Eknath Shinde. There was also discussion about his presence in some political meetings in Delhi and Mumbai. However, Ashtikar has publicly said several times that he is with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and there is no question of leaving the party.
Importance of Hingoli seat
Hingoli Lok Sabha seat is considered an important seat of Marathwada region. Nagesh Ashtikar’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections had given political strength to the Uddhav Thackeray faction in Marathwada. Ashtikar has also been an MLA from Hadgaon assembly constituency. He held various responsibilities in the Shiv Sena organization at the taluka chief and district level. Elected MLA from Hadgaon assembly constituency in 2014. Reached Parliament by winning from Hingoli seat in 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Ashtikar is considered a leader with a strong support base in the Marathwada region and is active on the issues of farmers, irrigation, employment and rural development.
Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh
Sanjay Deshmukh is currently an MP from Yavatmal-Washim Lok Sabha constituency and a leader of Shiv Sena (UBT). Talking about his political journey, Deshmukh’s political base has mainly been in Yavatmal district. He has also previously been a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he brought significant success to the Uddhav Thackeray faction in Vidarbha by winning the Yavatmal-Washim seat.
Yavatmal-Washim seat is considered an important seat of Vidarbha. The victory on this seat in 2024 was strategically important for the Uddhav group. Therefore, Sanjay Deshmukh’s political stance is considered important in the current politics of Maharashtra.
Sanjay (Bandu) Jadhav
Sanjay Jadhav is an MP from Parbhani Lok Sabha constituency of Maharashtra and is counted among the senior leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT). Jadhav has been associated with Shiv Sena for a long time. He has won the Lok Sabha elections from Parbhani several times in a row. In the Marathwada region, he is considered among the trusted leaders of Uddhav Thackeray. Even in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he retained it by winning the Parbhani seat.
Among the MPs loyal to Uddhav
Jadhav is considered one of the most loyal MPs of Uddhav Thackeray. Even after the split in Shiv Sena, he remained with Uddhav Thackeray and continued to strongly support the party. Political experts consider him a strong pillar of the Uddhav group. Jadhav has been raising issues related to farmers, irrigation, employment and regional development of Marathwada in the Lok Sabha. He is considered to have a strong hold on both party organization and parliamentary politics. He is one of the prominent MPs of the Uddhav Thackeray group on whom the party leadership has full confidence.
Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchore
Bhau Saheb Waghchaure is an MP from Shirdi Lok Sabha seat of Maharashtra and is among the prominent leaders of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). Bhau Saheb’s political base was in Ahmednagar district. He has also previously represented Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, he won the Shirdi seat for the Uddhav Thackeray faction by defeating the Mahayuti candidate. Shirdi Lok Sabha constituency includes many important assembly constituencies including Sangamner, Kopargaon, Rahata, Shrirampur, Nevasa of Ahmednagar district. This seat is considered important from the politics of North Maharashtra and Marathwada.
Counted among the leaders close to Uddhav
After the split in Shiv Sena, Bhausaheb Wakchore remained with Uddhav Thackeray. He is considered a trustworthy and grassroots leader in the organization.
Bhausaheb has been raising issues related to farmers, irrigation, cooperation, rural development and infrastructure of Shirdi region in the Parliament. He is considered to have a strong organizational hold in Shirdi and Ahmednagar areas.
Rajabhau (Parag) Prakash Waje
Rajbhau Prakash Baje is currently an MP from Nashik Lok Sabha constituency and a leader of Shiv Sena (UBT). He had won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by defeating the then MP Hemant Godse. He had secured around 6.16 lakh votes. He has a strong political base in Sinnar area of Nashik district. He has been the MLA of Sinnar Assembly constituency from 2014 to 2019.
Influence in politics of Nashik
In Parliament, Rajabhau Waje has prominently raised the issue of rehabilitation of sanitation workers and families involved in manual scavenging. He had demanded a time-bound rehabilitation plan and monitoring mechanism from the central government. Waze is currently counted among the important MPs of the Uddhav Thackeray faction in North Maharashtra and is considered to be influential in the politics of Nashik.
Sanjay Dina Patil
Sanjay Dina Patil is currently an MP from Mumbai North-East Lok Sabha constituency and is one of the prominent leaders of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray). He had won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by defeating BJP candidate Mihir Kotecha. He was born on 16 January 1969 in Mumbai.
Patil’s political journey
Talking about Patil’s political journey, in 2004 he was elected MLA from Bhandup assembly constituency. In 2009, he became Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai North-East on Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ticket. After this he joined Shiv Sena in the year 2019. Reached Lok Sabha again in 2024 as a candidate of Shiv Sena (UBT). Patil won the Mumbai North-East seat by a margin of about 29 thousand votes. This seat was considered one of the most popular and closely fought seats of Mumbai.
Important face of the party in Mumbai
After the Shiv Sena split, Sanjay Dina Patil remained with Uddhav Thackeray and is counted among the important faces of the party in Mumbai. He is considered to have a good hold on Marathi voters and local organization in Mumbai metropolitan area. He has been active in the meetings called by Uddhav Thackeray and is considered loyal to the party leadership.
political importance
Mumbai North-East Lok Sabha seat includes important assembly constituencies like Mulund, Vikhroli, Bhandup, Ghatkopar and Mankhurd-Shivaji Nagar. Winning this seat is considered a big achievement in Mumbai politics. Sanjay Dina Patil’s name figures prominently among the most influential MPs of the Uddhav Thackeray group in Mumbai.
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