Emotional Uddhav offers to step down as Shiv Sena (UBT) president, Eknath Shinde hints at more defections

Uddhav Thackeray, leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), offered to step down as party president if his leaders believed in allegations leveled against him by defected parliamentarians. He called for a counter-operation, "Operation Lotus," in response to alleged attempts by Eknath Shinde's faction to lure MPs into their fold. Thackeray also criticized the BJP for engaging in "dirty politics" and challenged them to station paramilitary forces in other regions instead of West Bengal. He emphasized that his party was not merging with the Congress, and called on Shiv Sena supporters to remain united despite internal challenges.