Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut has alleged that a conspiracy is being orchestrated to weaken and destroy Mumbai, Maharashtra, and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). His sharp remarks come amid the ongoing political turmoil in the state.

Reacting to reports about "Operation Tiger," Raut dismissed the speculation and took a dig at Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. "What Operation Tiger? Devendra Fadnavis is conducting operations on them daily. They are being humiliated every day," Raut said, referring to the Eknath Shinde-led faction of Shiv Sena.

He further criticized the Shinde camp, calling it "nothing more than an appendix, which can be removed at any time." Raut’s remarks highlight the deepening rift between the Shiv Sena factions ahead of the crucial Mumbai civic body elections.

The BMC, India’s richest municipal corporation, has been under an administrator’s rule since the term of elected representatives ended in 2022. With elections on the horizon, the power struggle between Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Shinde-led Sena, backed by the BJP, has intensified.

Meanwhile, the Shinde faction has yet to respond to Raut’s statements, but political observers see this as another flashpoint in Maharashtra’s ongoing political battle.