Nagpur, June 17 -- Maharashtra Minister and senior BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday dismissed allegations that the BJP was involved in any attempt to trigger defections within the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), asserting that the party had no connection with the reported "Operation Tiger" or any move to engineer a split.
His remarks came amid speculation that a group of Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs may break away to form a separate faction.
The political buzz intensified after Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut alleged that an "advance payment of Rs15 crore" was being offered to lure MPs from Maharashtra.
Speaking to reporters in Nagpur, Bawankule said he had no knowledge of any such operation and therefore could not comment on it....