In a major political development, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC and Worli leader Sachin Ahir has quit the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction and joined the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
Soon after joining the ruling Mahayuti alliance, Ahir filed his nomination for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.
Addressing a joint press conference after the nomination, Eknath Shinde welcomed Ahir into the party and took a swipe at Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.
Referring to Thackeray’s recent political outreach, Shinde said, “After visiting the constituencies of our six MPs and criticising them publicly, Sachin Ahir is now here in Mumbai to welcome him.
Whatever I do is foolproof. I will not make any further clarification, but everything has been done in a legally sound manner.”
Shinde described Ahir as a grassroots leader and expressed confidence that he would be elected Deputy Chairperson through the Mahayuti’s proposal.
“Sachin Ahir has always been recognised as a grassroots worker. Tomorrow, he is expected to be elected Deputy Chairperson. He will not only represent Mumbai but will work for the entire state. His presence will strengthen Shiv Sena’s connect with the labour community in Mumbai,” Shinde said.
He added that every party worker expects support from the leadership and reiterated that his party believes in uniting people rather than breaking parties.
“We are here to unite, not divide. Our approach has always been positive and practical. Shiv Sena is a party built by workers. Even when I was the Chief Minister, I worked as an ordinary party worker.
Sachin Ahir is known for his ability to work as part of a team, and I wholeheartedly welcome him,” Shinde said.
Recalling the 2022 Shiv Sena rebellion, Shinde noted that the date of Ahir’s induction coincided with the anniversary of his own swearing-in ceremony.
“We launched the rebellion on June 22, 2022, and today is June 30 the same date on which I took oath as Chief Minister. It is merely a coincidence. Devendra Fadnavis and I worked together as a team. During the Maha Vikas Aghadi government there was a backlog in development, but under the Mahayuti government Maharashtra has progressed across all sectors,” he said.
Shinde also responded to recent political remarks concerning Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. “When Devendraji was Chief Minister in 2019, he made 50 phone calls but not one was answered. At that time, the attitude was ‘either you stay or I stay.’ The same people who filed false cases against Devendra Fadnavis and even sent police to Sagar Bungalow are now suddenly expressing affection for him. Devendraji is intelligent and understands everything. I don’t think there is any need to say more,” Shinde remarked.
Speaking at the joint press conference, Sachin Ahir said leaders are praised while they remain in a party but criticised once they leave. “It is unfortunate that you are considered good only as long as you remain with them, and the moment you leave, you are branded incompetent. When leaders from other parties join them, they are not accused of acting out of self-interest. But when their own leaders leave, they are immediately labelled selfish. Some people believe they alone are everything, but the people of my constituency know my contribution,” Ahir said.
Although he avoided directly responding to political allegations, his remarks were widely seen as an indirect response to criticism from Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray.
Expressing gratitude to Eknath Shinde, Ahir said the Deputy Chief Minister had demonstrated that grassroots workers could rise to occupy constitutional positions.
“I sincerely thank Eknath Shinde. A diamond’s brilliance is discovered even in coal, and when that opportunity comes, it helps shape the future. By giving a grassroots worker like me the honour of contesting for the Deputy Chairperson’s post, Eknath Shinde has shown that an ordinary party worker can rise to such a position,” Ahir said.
