MUMBAI, June 22 -- Six Lok Sabha MPs of the Shiv Sena (UBT) joined the Shiv Sena, led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde, at an event in Mumbai on Monday, shrinking the rival Uddhav Thackeray-led party to just three parliamentarians in the lower house of Parliament.

"The required process has been completed. All six MPs have joined the Shiv Sena. 'Operation Tiger' is a success," Shinde announced at a press conference at the YB Chavan Centre in south Mumbai. The six lawmakers-Sanjay Jadhav, Bhausaheb Wakchaure, Sanjay Deshmukh, Nagesh Patil Ashtikar, Omraje Nimbalkar, and Sanjay Dina Patil-were present on the dais during the announcement.

"We have completed legal, parliamentary and constitutional requirements," Shinde said, responding...