Altering the political equations in Maharashtra, six MPs of Shiv Sena (UBT) decided to break away from the party to form an independent group. The six, according to reports, include Sanjay Jadhav (Parbhani), Bhausaheb Wakchaure (Shirdi), Sanjay Deshmukh (Yavatmal), Nagesh Patil Ashtikar (Hingoli), Omraje Nimbalkar (Dharashiv) and Sanjay Patil (Mumbai North East).
However, the most shocking of desertions came from none other than Omraje Nimbalkar, the MP from Dharashiv and a Thackeray loyalist.
When the first split occurred in Shiv Sena, Nimbalkar firmly supported Uddhav Thackeray, handling rebel MLAs and MPs. During the Lok Sabha elections, Nimbalkar said in public meetings that he would always be with Thackeray, stating loyalty is more valuable than money.
However, in Operation Tiger, Nimbalkar was airlifted from Pune to Delhi, with Shrikant Shinde, Tanaji Sawant and Prataprao Sarnaik playing key roles. Nimbalkar had been keeping away from the media for the last few days, though he claimed to be in Pune. There were speculations that the 'Operation Tiger' was delayed due to Omraje's refusal. However, Sarnik’s intervention yielded fruit when Nimbalkar agreed to part ways with Thackeray.
According to local media reports, two flights were booked at Pune airport in the name of Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde. In fact, Nimbalkar was supposed to leave for Delhi on one of these flights on Tuesday afternoon. However, the plan was later changed, and he secretly left for Delhi at 1 am.
After news broke that Nimbalkar decided to jump ship, netizens took to social media to express anger. Some said, "We cannot expect this from you; stay with Uddhav Thackeray." Many others challenged him to quit as MP before switching sides.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) Sanjay Raut has made allegations that Nimbalkar’s sudden move is influenced by the upcoming verdict of the murder case of Nimbalkar’s father and Congress leader Pawanraje Nimbalkar.
“The Pawan Raje murder case has been going on for 20 years. The verdict in this case was supposed to be announced yesterday. But we have information that there is pressure on them that, "If you want a favourable verdict, join our group. This information was conveyed to them through an important person,” Raut told local media reporters on Tuesday.
On June 3, 2006, Pawanraje Nimbalkar and his driver, Samad Kazi, were on their way from Mumbai to Osmanabad (now Dharashiv). Two hitmen intercepted their car at Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai and opened fire, killing both on the spot. The main accused in the case is former NCP MP Padamsinh Patil. In this case, the testimony of 128 people, including senior social worker Anna Hazare, has been recorded. Special CBI court judge Satyanarayan Navander clarified on Tuesday that two more days are required to complete the verdict writing and posted the next hearing on June 20.
