Operation Tiger: 'Secret' photos shed light on crucial meeting before six rebel MPs exited from Shiv Sena (UBT)

Weeks after the defection of six rebel MPs from the Shive Sena (UBT) to the Eknath Shinde camp, "secret" photos have emerged, shedding light on how the high-stakes political operation unfolded.

Though rumour mills had claimed at the time of the June move that the six rebel MPs had met with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla much earlier than they formally announced their defection, there had been no concrete proof at the time.

The new photos from the secret June 17 meeting between Birla and the rebel MPs show how Operation Tiger had been orchestrated for months, culminating in Delhi.

Shinde faction MP and Eknath Shinde's son, Dr Shrikant, and minister Pratap Sarnaik, could also be seen in the photos.

Dr Shrikant Shinde was said to have played a crucial role in handling the movements of the rebel MPs in the months leading up to the defection officially being announced.

An NDTV report, citing officials, has now said that the June 17 meeting took place as follows:

• At 6:30 AM, rebel MP Omraje Nimbalkar met with Om Birla in Delhi, signed the defection papers, and left for Maharashtra.
• An hour later, the other five MPs—Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Jadhav, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Bhausaheb Wakchaure—reached Delhi's Leela Hotel. They meet with Dr Shrikant and Pratap Sarnaik.
• At 9:30 AM, this group went to meet Om Birla at his residence, from where they signed the defection papers.

Dharashiv MP Nimbalkar and Hingoli MP Ashtikar were the first to publicly announce their exit from the Thackeray Sena on June 21, citing a fund crunch, a lack of power, and the party's alleged plans to merge with the Congress.

The very next day, they were officially inducted into the Shinde Sena—a move heavily criticised by both Uddhav Thackeray and Sanjay Raut.

"The six tigers are here. They have all now joined the real Shiv Sena family," Eknath Shinde had said at the time.