Daijiworld Media Network - Nashik
Nashik, Jul 11: The Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray has convened an urgent meeting in Nashik following speculation that 10 to 12 of its corporators in the Nashik Municipal Corporation could join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena under an alleged "Operation Tiger".
Taking serious note of the reports, the party's contact chief Ravindra Mirlekar arrived in Nashik and is scheduled to hold a crucial review meeting with office-bearers and corporators on Saturday to assess the political situation.
The development comes amid intense speculation over possible defections from the Uddhav Thackeray camp, triggering fresh political uncertainty in the city.
The controversy escalated after Shiv Sena (UBT) group leader Keshav Porje alleged that attempts were being made to lure party corporators with financial incentives.
Addressing a press conference, Porje claimed that certain intermediaries were offering a ward development fund worth Rs 5 crore to corporators in an attempt to engineer defections.
He further alleged that a lawyer, who was aspiring to become a nominated corporator, was in contact with five to six corporators as part of the exercise.
Dismissing the speculation, Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators later held a joint press conference, asserting that none of them would defect to another party.
"Our corporators are loyal and not a single one will leave the party," the group leaders said.
They also warned political rivals that if attempts were made to split the party, they would launch "Operation Tudva", referring to the campaign initiated after the defection of several party MPs.
The Shiv Sena (UBT) currently has 15 corporators in the Nashik Municipal Corporation.
Of them, 13 attended the show of strength organised by the party. Corporators Mangala Adhav and Muralidhar Bhamre were absent due to family bereavements. However, Bhamre's son attended the gathering and reaffirmed the family's loyalty to Uddhav Thackeray.
Party sources said the leadership at Matoshree has taken the developments seriously, and Saturday's meeting, chaired by Ravindra Mirlekar, is expected to review the political situation in detail and formulate the party's response to the alleged "Operation Tiger".