Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sachin Ahir joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and was named the Mahayuti candidate for the Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson election, dealing another setback to Uddhav Thackeray’s camp.
Sachin Ahir submits his nomination for the Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson election after joining the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, and other Mahayuti leaders were present during the filing. (Photo: Ahir's X account)
Shiv Sena (UBT) suffered another setback on Tuesday after its Member of the Legislative Council, Sachin Ahir, crossed over to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and was immediately nominated by the ruling Mahayuti alliance for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
The move comes days after six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs joined the Shinde-led faction, further intensifying the political battle between the rival Sena camps as the contest for the Council’s Deputy Chairperson gathers momentum.
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Ahir filed his nomination in Mumbai in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, along with other Mahayuti leaders.
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Maharashtra minister Sanjay Shirsat said the ruling alliance had chosen Ahir as its candidate, calling it another successful political move by Shinde.
“Today was the time to file the application for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council. For that, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, Neelam Gorhe, and all of us were present. Everyone was curious about whose form would be filled out today. But Eknath Shinde Saheb once again conducted an operation on UBT and for the post of Deputy Chairman, we have filed the application of Sachin Ahir,” Shirsat said.
Ahir’s exit is being seen as a significant setback for the Uddhav Thackeray-led party, particularly in Mumbai. A former MLA from Worli and a prominent labour union leader, Ahir had earlier risen through the Nationalist Congress Party before joining the undivided Shiv Sena ahead of the 2019 Assembly election. He was later nominated to the Legislative Council by the Thackeray faction in 2022.
Shirsat claimed Ahir had not received due recognition despite his political standing.
“Sachin Ahir is a core Shiv Sainik. He has not changed parties but has entered Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). He has been a Minister of State and has a hold in the Worli area. Even an activist like him was being suppressed. This is the explosion of that,” he said.
The latest crossover follows Shinde’s recent declaration that his political outreach, which he has described as “Operation Tiger”, was still underway after six Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs joined his faction.
“We don’t do incomplete operations. Operation Tiger is a resounding, legal success. We have completed all the necessary legal formalities for this,” Shinde had said.
Speaking on the Shiv Sena’s foundation day on June 19, he had also remarked, “This is just the trailer, the movie is still to come.”
Shirsat claimed more leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party could join the Shinde camp in the coming days.
“Our estimate is that except for Aaditya Thackeray, everyone else will come to Shiv Sena,” he alleged.
The development comes shortly after Uddhav Thackeray questioned the continuing defections from his party while addressing a rally in Dharashiv.
“Why are they breaking the Shiv Sena? They want to finish Maharashtra, finish Shiv Sena, and finish Maharashtra Dharma,” he said.
He also alleged that industries were moving away from Maharashtra and asserted that the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray could not be measured solely by the number of elected representatives.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut challenged those leaving the party to resign and seek a fresh public mandate, saying the organisation would continue to fight despite the split.
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