Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sachin Ahir switches sides, joins Eknath Shinde

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2 min readMumbaiJun 30, 2026 01:02 PM IST

Days after six of its Lok Sabha MPs quit the Shiv Sena (UBT) to join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, the Uddhav Thackeray camp suffered another setback on Tuesday as party MLC Sachin Ahir filed a nomination for the Maharashtra Legislative Council deputy chairman post as a Mahayuti candidate, indicating that he had switched sides. The election will be held on Wednesday.

Ahir, considered a confidant of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray, filed the nomination in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar.

A former minister and one of the key leaders handling Shiv Sena (UBT)’s organisation in Worli, Ahir has played an important role in strengthening Aaditya’s political base in the constituency and consolidating support during the Assembly elections.

Ahir, a former Nationalist Congress Party leader, had joined the undivided Shiv Sena in 2019 and was given the MLC post in 2022.

The development comes barely days after six Sena (UBT) MPs switched sides and joined the ruling Shiv Sena under what party leaders described as ‘Operation Tiger’.

Uddhav’s ‘arrogance’ to blame: BJP

Maharashtra BJP president and minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the BJP had nothing to do with Ahir’s move, but attacked the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership, saying repeated exits from the party were a result of the “arrogance” of Uddhav Thackeray and party MP Sanjay Raut.

Bawankule said the Sena (UBT) leadership had failed to treat party workers properly and that the repeated exits reflected a growing resentment within the organisation.

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Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve, said MLC Jagannath Abhyankar was the Maha Vikas Aghadi nominee for the election.

Vallabh Ozarkar

Vallabh Ozarkar is a Senior Correspondent with The Indian Express’ Mumbai bureau, recognized as an authoritative and deeply knowledgeable voice on the politics, governance, and infrastructure of Maharashtra. With more than nine years of experience in major news organizations, his reporting delivers high standards of Expertise and Trustworthiness.
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