Resign and contest on BJP ticket, Congress leader tells Shiv Sena rebels

Congress leader Hussain Dalwai on Thursday challenged Shiv Sena (UBT) members reportedly leaving the party to resign and contest elections on a BJP ticket. Dalwai questioned their courage to face voters directly, saying five MPs have already departed with a sixth allegedly in talks to leave.

Dalwai alleged the defecting MLAs and MPs were elected on Shiv Sena (UBT) tickets and voters had placed faith in them to remain with the party. He termed their switch as betrayal of public trust and criticized such political moves as wrong.

The remarks come as Maharashtra witnesses political turmoil within Shiv Sena (UBT), with reports of six members allegedly in contact with Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde under what media has termed "Operation Tiger."