India, June 22 -- The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena is reportedly aiming to engineer a far larger crossover from Shiv Sena (UBT) than previously believed. The party claims that as many as 45 Shiv Sena (UBT) corporators are considering a switch- a number that would comfortably meet the two-thirds benchmark needed to avoid disqualification under anti-defection provisions.

The claim forms part of the Shiv Sena's so-called "Operation Tiger" within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), where political chatter over possible defections has intensified in recent weeks.

Amey Ghole, a Shiv Sena leader in the BMC, claimed that interest in joining the Shinde faction was growing among Sena (UBT) corporators.

"Not 25, but at least 45 corporato...