Blow to Uddhav Sena: Aaditya Thackeray aide Sachin Ahir joins Eknath Shinde

The development comes days after six Sena (UBT) MPs quit the Uddhav Thackeray-led party and joined the ruling Shiv Sena under what party leaders described as “Operation Tiger”, taking the Shinde-led Sena’s strength in Lok Sabha from seven MPs to thirteen.
Ahir, a former NCP leader who joined the undivided Shiv Sena in July 2019, had played a key role in helping Aaditya Thackeray consolidate the Worli constituency before his electoral debut that year.

Sachin Ahir filed the nomination for the Maharashtra Legislative Council deputy chairman post in the presence of CM Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.

The latest move marks the second setback for Uddhav Thackeray within just over a week and indicates that after engineering defections in Parliament, the Shinde led Sena has now begun making inroads into Sena (UBT)’s organisational structure in Maharashtra, particularly Mumbai where Aaditya Thackeray remains one of the party’s principal faces.

The move also came as a surprise within Mahayuti circles as Ahir’s candidature for Deputy Speaker post emerged at the last moment.

Welcoming Ahir into the party fold, Eknath Shinde said, “Sachin Ahir has filed his application for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council. This nomination has been filed by the Mahayuti. The Mahayuti is in majority. Therefore Sachin Ahir will be elected as Deputy Chairman. He will work to provide justice not only in Mumbai but also Maharashtra as Deputy Chairman. With the arrival of Sachin Ahir, the strength of Shiv Sena has also increased. There is no doubt he will do a great job. I welcome him wholeheartedly.”

Shinde also linked Ahir’s move with the recent switch by six MPs.

“Last week six MPs came to Shiv Sena and hit sixes and now Sachin Ahir has hit sixes. Some people went to the constituencies of those six MPs. Sachin Ahir welcomed them by hitting sixes. Fours and sixes will continue and the wickets ahead will keep falling,” Shinde said.

Speaking to reporters after filing the nomination, Ahir refused to directly attack Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray but hit back at criticism from Sena (UBT) leaders over his decision.

“As long as we were together, I was good. It is unfortunate that some people are trying to tell me how worthless I am when we are separated. I will comment on it from a different political platform,” Ahir said.

Ahir also indicated internal dissatisfaction within Sena (UBT).

“Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray had given responsibilities to me and I discharged them. Eknath Shinde is witness to that. As party workers, one has to work wherever responsibility is given. My contribution in Assembly and BMC elections is known to people. Some people think only they exist and nobody else,” Ahir said indirectly hinting at Aaditya.

Asked whether he had formally resigned from Sena (UBT), Ahir said, “I have not quit any party. I will disclose the legal and technical aspects later.”

Backing Ahir’s move, Shinde said there was no contradiction in Ahir contesting on behalf of the Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

“One thing must be remembered. When Sachin Ahir became MLC, all of us in the undivided Shiv Sena had voted for him. At that time he was in Shiv Sena whose election symbol was bow and arrow. Now also he is in Shiv Sena with the same symbol, so there is nothing to worry about,” Shinde said.

According to Sena (UBT) leaders, Ahir’s move caught the party leadership by surprise. Party sources said Ahir had informed only two leaders in the party about his decision before switching sides and most leaders came to know only after he reached Vidhan Bhavan on Tuesday morning to file nomination papers.

Sources said Ahir had been in touch with Shinde over the last three days before taking the final decision.

Soon after filing nomination, Ahir resigned as president of Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, Sena (UBT)’s workers union, and also stepped down from the post of president of Brihanmumbai BEST Kamgar Sena.

In a message sent to Uddhav Thackeray, Ahir thanked him for the trust placed in him and opportunities given over the years but said he was stepping down because of “unavoidable reasons”. He also wished the party well for the future.

Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Ambadas Danve said Ahir had informed him only on Tuesday morning after remaining with party leaders till late Monday night.

Danve said Ahir had sent him a message shortly before switching sides.

“I have taken this decision for my political survival. I have no background in politics and my work is my only proof,” Ahir said in the message, Danve claimed.

“Worli remains Shiv Sena’s stronghold. His exit will not make any difference,” Danve said, while confirming Jagannath Abhyankar as Maha Vikas Aghadi’s nominee for Wednesday’s election.

Responding to Ahir’s move, Aditya said, “We have been seeing this for the last four years. Those to whom the party gave everything are leaving the party only for their own personal interests. As we have been seeing this continuously for some time now, there is nothing new in this and it does not shock us at all. Worli-Sewri was and will remain Shiv Sena (UBT)’s stronghold.”

“He messaged me this morning saying he will not contest against me in Worli, but these are things people just say for the sake of saying ” he added.

With Ahir’s exit, Sena (UBT)’s strength in the Legislative Council has come down to five members — Anil Parab, Ambadas Danve, Milind Narvekar, J M Abhyankar and Sunil Shinde.

Legislature officials said nomination for Deputy Chairman election is not filed through any political party and therefore anti-defection provisions may not apply in this case.

Officials said Ahir was elected to the Council in 2022 as member of the undivided Shiv Sena and therefore disqualification proceedings may not arise immediately.