IN A fresh jolt to Uddhav Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sachin Ahir on Tuesday filed his nomination for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council on behalf of the rival Eknath Shinde-led faction. The surprise move by Ahir, a close confidante of Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, comes days after 6 MPs ditched the Opposition party to join the ruling Shiv Sena. Ahir submitted his nomination as a MahaYuti candidate in the presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar. Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve confirmed that MLC Jagannath Abhyankar is the Maha Vikas Aghadi nominee. Talking to reporters in the Vidhan Bhavan, State Minister and Shiv Sena leader Uday Samant said, “Sachin Ahir is a senior MLC and he has raised his voice for the people of Mumbai. I am happy that such an experienced leader is coming with the Shiv Sena. We have checked all the legal side, and then this decision was taken.” Downplaying the development, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Sunil Raut asserted that the Uddhav Thackeray-led party has weathered several and remained intact. “We have received many shocks, but the party was never finished. This shock is not a big one for Shiv Sena (UBT),” he told reporters in Vidhan Bhavan. Last week, six of the nine Lok Sabha members from the Uddhav Thackeray-led party joined the ruling Shiv Sena.

 

Ahir’s entry into Shiv Sena marks setback for UBT, says Shirsat: MAHARASHTRA Minister Sanjay Shirsat said the proposal of Sachin Ahir’s name for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the MLC is a significant political development, taking a swipe at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT). Speaking to reporters after Ahir filed his nomination, Shirsat said, “Today was the time to file the application for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council. For that, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Neelam Gorhe, and all of us were present. Everyone was curious about whose form would be filled out today. But Eknath Shinde Saheb once again conducted an operation on UBT and for the post of Deputy Chairman, we have filed the application of Sachin Ahir.” Praising Ahir, the Minister said he had a long political career and enjoyed strong support in Mumbai’s Worli constituency. “Sachin Ahir is a core Shiv Sainik. He has not changed parties but has entered Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). He has been a Minister of State and has a hold in the Worli area. Even an activist like him was being suppressed. This is the explosion of that,” he said. Shirsat claimed the decision reflected the sentiments of Shiv Sena workers and asserted that Eknath Shinde had the authority to take decisions regarding candidates in the party’s interest. He also alleged that more leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) could join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the coming days.