Sachin Ahir joins Shinde-led Shiv Sena in fresh setback for Uddhav Thackeray

In a significant political setback for the Uddhav Thackerayled Shiv Sena UBT party leader and Member of the Legislative Council MLC Sachin Ahir joined the Eknath Shindeled Shiv Sena on TuesdayAhir formally joined the ruling Shiv Sena at the partys office in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Earlier in the day he filed his nomination for the election to the post of Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council as the Mahayuti alliances candidateThe nomination was submitted in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar signalling Ahirs formal entry into the ruling allianceShinde welcomes Ahir addresses antidefection questionSpeaking to reporters after Ahirs induction Shinde welcomed the MLC into the party and praised his work for local communities and former textile mill workersResponding to a question on whether the antidefection law would apply in Ahirs case Eknath Shinde said Ahir had been elected to the Legislative Council in 2022 as a Shiv Sena member and argued that technically he continued to belong to the same political party despite the split in the organisationReferring to the recent political developments Shinde said ldquoA week ago six MPs hit a six and today MLA Ahir has also hit a sixrdquo He added that ldquofours and sixesrdquo would continue and hinted that more leaders from the rival camp could switch sides He also asserted that every decision taken by his party was ldquofoolproofrdquoPraising Ahirrsquos political career Shinde said the veteran leader had served three terms as an MLA is now a Legislative Council member and has held the position of Minister of State for seven departments He said Ahir had worked extensively on issues concerning mill workers understood the problems faced by Mumbai residents and had consistently raised concerns related to workers the fishing community and Shiv Sena workersShinde expressed confidence that the Mahayuti alliance enjoys a clear majority in both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council and said Ahir would be elected Deputy Chairman on Wednesday He added that Ahir would discharge his responsibilities fairly across Maharashtra not just in Mumbai Shinde also said Ahirrsquos induction would strengthen Shiv Senarsquos presence in Mumbai Pune and other regions where he has workedldquoOur agenda is not to hold on to power but to resolve the problems of the people who put us in office and ensure justice for themrdquo Shinde said He added that the Mahayuti government had worked for farmers labourers women under welfare schemes youth and other sections of society He said elected representatives must deliver justice to people in their constituenciesldquoWe believe in uniting people not dividing them While some people have come to destroy we have come to strengthen Shiv Sena We are moving forward with the ideals of Balasaheb Thackeray and Anand Digherdquo Shinde saidThe development marks another setback for the opposition Shiv Sena UBT which has witnessed a series of defections in recent daysMove follows recent defections from Sena UBTAhir who was considered a close associate of Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray switched sides just days after six of the partys nine Lok Sabha members joined the ruling Shiv Sena led by Eknath ShindeHis decision further strengthens the ruling Mahayuti alliance in the state legislature while weakening the opposition camp ahead of key political developmentsOn the opposition side Shiv Sena UBT leader Ambadas Danve confirmed that MLC Jagannath Abhyankar is the Maha Vikas Aghadis candidate for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Legislative CouncilThe contest for the Deputy Chairmans post has therefore become another political battle between the ruling Mahayuti alliance and the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi coming at a time when the balance of strength within the legislature continues to shift following a series of highprofile defectionsAhirs move is expected to have political significance given his long association with the undivided Shiv Sena and his proximity to the partys leadership before the split His decision to join the Shindeled faction adds to the growing list of leaders who have crossed over from the Uddhav Thackeray camp to the ruling alliance in recent weeks