Pawan Khera Targets BJP Over Political Defections, Calls ‘Operation Lotus’ an ‘Operation Mud’
Congress accuses BJP of engineering defections in Maharashtra and West Bengal to weaken opposition parties despite its electoral strength.
A fresh wave of political defections in Maharashtra and West Bengal has sparked a major controversy, with the Congress accusing the BJP of using pressure tactics to weaken opposition parties across the country.
In Maharashtra, former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray suffered a significant setback after six Members of Parliament from his Shiv Sena faction announced their decision to join the camp led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The rebel MPs have reportedly met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and sought official recognition for their separate group.
Reacting to the development, senior Congress leader and spokesperson Pawan Khera launched a sharp attack on the BJP during a press conference in New Delhi. Referring to the party’s widely discussed “Operation Lotus,” Khera mockingly renamed it “Operation Mud.”
He alleged that wherever the BJP fails to win public support and make its electoral symbol, the lotus, bloom, it resorts to political maneuvering and attempts to destabilize rival parties. Khera also criticized campaigns such as “Operation Tiger” and “Congress Mukt Bharat,” claiming they undermine democratic principles and institutions.
Political observers view the latest rebellion as another major blow to Uddhav Thackeray. Eknath Shinde, once considered one of Thackeray’s closest associates, now heads the faction that has been recognized as the official Shiv Sena by legal and electoral authorities. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently reiterated that there is only one Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and that it is led by Shinde.
The Congress has questioned why the BJP continues to encourage defections from rival parties despite securing a strong electoral mandate. Party leaders argued that such actions raise concerns about the government’s political intentions and commitment to democratic norms.
The political turbulence is not limited to Maharashtra. Reports from West Bengal suggest that a group of Trinamool Congress MPs, led by Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, have broken away from the party and joined a regional political outfit in Tripura that is part of the ruling NDA alliance. In addition, several TMC legislators have reportedly formed a separate bloc and selected their own opposition leadership, creating new challenges for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Political analysts say these developments have intensified concerns about the stability of India’s multi party democratic system. Critics argue that large scale defections, whether driven by political pressure or strategic calculations, weaken the mandate given by voters and contribute to growing public distrust in the political process.
Opposition parties have indicated that they will continue to raise the issue both inside Parliament and through public campaigns, accusing the BJP of attempting to weaken democratic institutions and reshape the political landscape in its favor.