In a major political development in Maharashtra, former MLA Sachin Ahir on Tuesday joined the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, dealing another setback to the Shiv Sena (UBT) headed by Uddhav Thackeray.
The move comes just ahead of the election for the Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, with Ahir also filing his nomination for the post after joining the Shinde-led faction.
Sachin Ahir Switches to Shinde Camp
The induction of Sachin Ahir was confirmed by Shrikant Shinde, who said the former legislator had officially joined the party and submitted his nomination for the Deputy Chairman election.
Ahir, a former MLA from Worli, has been regarded as a close associate of Aaditya Thackeray, who currently represents the constituency in the Maharashtra Assembly.
His decision to change political sides is being viewed as another important development in the state’s evolving political landscape.
A Long Political Journey
Sachin Ahir has been associated with several political parties during his public career.
He began his political journey with the Indian National Congress before joining the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
Later, he became part of the undivided Shiv Sena when Aaditya Thackeray entered electoral politics from Worli. At the time, the move was widely seen as strengthening the party’s position in the constituency.
Another Setback for Shiv Sena (UBT)
Ahir’s exit adds to the challenges facing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) following the split in the party in 2022.
The split saw Eknath Shinde and a majority of Shiv Sena MLAs break away to form a separate faction, which later secured recognition as the official Shiv Sena along with the party’s election symbol.
Political observers view Ahir’s move as another sign of the continuing realignment within Maharashtra politics.
Defections Continue in Maharashtra Politics
The latest development comes only days after six Lok Sabha Members of Parliament from Shiv Sena (UBT) joined the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.
The merger further strengthened the ruling Mahayuti alliance and expanded the Shinde faction’s presence in Parliament.
Eknath Shinde had described the MPs’ decision as the “second phase” of the political developments that began with the 2022 Shiv Sena split.
Focus Shifts to Deputy Chairman Election
With Sachin Ahir now entering the contest as the Shiv Sena candidate, attention has shifted to the upcoming Deputy Chairman election in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
The election is expected to be closely watched as it could reflect the current balance of political support among parties represented in the Upper House.
The outcome may also influence future political strategies as Maharashtra’s major parties continue to prepare for upcoming electoral battles.
