Political tensions in Maharashtra have intensified after Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut alleged that rebel Members of Parliament were offered ₹15 crore each as part of an operation aimed at engineering a split within the party. The allegation comes amid reports that multiple MPs from the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp are preparing to align with the faction headed by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Raut claimed that financial inducements were being used to influence lawmakers and asserted that advance payments had already been made to facilitate the political realignment. The accusations mirror similar claims made during the 2022 Shiv Sena split, when opposition leaders alleged that monetary incentives played a role in the defection of elected representatives. The controversy has erupted as reports continue to circulate about a possible breakaway group of MPs seeking separate recognition in Parliament. Political activity has shifted largely to New Delhi, where meetings and consultations are reportedly underway regarding the future course of the rebel legislators. While leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray camp have raised concerns over alleged attempts to weaken the party, representatives from the Shinde faction have dismissed the charges, describing them as politically motivated accusations made without evidence. The rival camp maintains that lawmakers are joining voluntarily due to political differences and dissatisfaction within the party structure. Adding to the speculation, Raut has also pointed to the movement of chartered aircraft and the travel of MPs to Delhi as evidence of a coordinated political operation. However, no official documentation supporting the bribery allegations has been publicly presented so far. As the political drama unfolds, attention remains focused on developments in Delhi, where decisions taken by rebel MPs could significantly impact the balance of power within Maharashtra’s opposition landscape.


