Days after six MPs defected, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena received another jolt on Tuesday when MLC and Aaditya Thackeray’s close aide Sachin Ahir switched to the Shiv Sena fielding him as Mahutti’s candidate for the election of Deputy Speaker of the State Legislative Council.
Ahir, a legislator and union leader, joined the Shiv Sena at the party office in the presence of party president and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
On Tuesday morning, he filled out the election form for the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Council in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.
Addressing a press conference, Shinde said he welcomed MLC Sachin Ahir. He said Ahir was employed by mill workers and bumiputeras. Asked whether the anti-defection law would be applied in Ahir’s case, Shinde said Ahir was elected to the state legislative assembly as a member of the Shiv Sena in 2022 and is technically the same party.
Ahir is a two-time MLA from Worli constituency, which Aaditya now represents. Ahir’s crossing over to the Sena means the younger Thackeray could face a tough fight in the upcoming Assembly elections. Ahir started his career in Congress and later went to the NCP. He was MLA from Worli and served as Minister of State for Housing. He was defeated in the 2014 polls by Sena’s Sunil Shinde.
In 2019, Ahir joined Uddhav-led Shiv Sena because Aaditya wanted a safe win from Worli. As a reward, he was appointed a member of the Legislative Council. The BJP was also eyeing him as they wanted a strong candidate against Aaditya Thackeray in the 2029 Assembly elections, but Ahir decided to join the Sena.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Anil Parab said, “Right now, we do not have enough votes for the vice-presidential post. We now have to face the situation and the party will take necessary action.”
In his resignation letter, Ahir announced that he would step down from his positions in the Bharatiya Kamghar Sena and from his positions associated with the Shiv Sena (UBT). Ahir expressed his gratitude for the trust placed in him by the party leadership and for giving him opportunities. “For compelling reasons, I will resign from my position.”
