Sachin Ahir, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction on Tuesday [1].

The defection represents a significant loss for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), as Ahir was considered a close confidante of Aaditya Thackeray [2]. His move further weakens the UBT faction's hold on the council amid ongoing internal turmoil.

Following his switch in allegiance, Ahir filed his nomination for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council [1]. While some reports refer to the position as Deputy Speaker, the official designation for the upper house role is Deputy Chairman [1].

Ahir brings a history of legislative experience to the Shinde camp. He is a two-time Member of the Legislative Assembly from Worli [3] and previously served as the Mumbai president of the Nationalist Congress Party [1].

This move follows a trend of erosion within the Thackeray wing. Six members of parliament had previously left the Uddhav-led faction before Ahir's decision to defect [4].

The timing of the switch has drawn scrutiny. Ahir had attended a key Shiv Sena (UBT) meeting in Mumbai shortly before his defection, where he criticized the state government's response to monsoon flooding [5]. He has since aligned himself with the government he previously slammed.

Ahir's transition to the ruling faction coincides with his pursuit of a senior leadership role within the legislative body [5]. By filing for the deputy chairperson position, he is positioning himself for a high-ranking administrative role in the state's upper house.

“Sachin Ahir, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction.”

The defection of Sachin Ahir underscores the continued volatility of Maharashtra's political landscape. By absorbing key figures from the UBT faction, the Shinde-led government strengthens its legislative majority and further isolates the Thackeray family. This shift suggests that individual political ambitions and the allure of administrative power are outweighing party loyalty within the fractured Shiv Sena.