The development comes just days after six Members of Parliament left the opposition party and joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, further weakening the party's strength

Immediately after filing his nomination papers, Sachin Ahir reportedly sent his official resignation letter to Uddhav Thackeray

The letter reportedly stated that he was stepping down from all key responsibilities within the Shiv Sena (UBT), including his leadership roles in influential labour unions

In his letter, Ahir, who defected and shifted his loyalty to Shiv Sena chief leader and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, cited "unavoidable circumstances" for his sudden departure

Ahir's exit robs the Thackeray faction of a vital face in Mumbai's urban politics and trade union leadership. As the head of the BEST labour union and a key figure in the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, Ahir held immense sway over Mumbai's working-class vote bank