Sachin Ahir Elected Unopposed as Maharashtra Legislative Council Deputy Chairman

Following an appeal from the government for a consensus on the election, Sachin Ahir was elected unopposed as the Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council on Wednesday (July 1). Initially, the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) had nominated Jagannath Abhyankar for the position. However, the ruling coalition urged the opposition to adhere to the tradition of electing the Deputy Chairman by consensus. After the government's request, the opposition withdrew Abhyankar's nomination, paving the way for Ahir's unanimous election as Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

In a significant blow to Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), Sachin Ahir switched allegiances and joined the faction led by Eknath Shinde on Tuesday. Immediately after joining the Shinde faction, Ahir submitted his nomination for the Deputy Chairman position in the Maharashtra Legislative Council as a Shiv Sena candidate. This development occurred at a time when six Lok Sabha MPs from Shiv Sena (UBT) had also joined Shinde's faction, marking one of the most substantial political setbacks for Uddhav Thackeray's camp since the party split. Ahir, a former MLA from Worli, was once considered a close associate of Aaditya Thackeray. He began his political journey with the Congress, later moving to the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), and eventually joining the undivided Shiv Sena. Following the rebellion led by Eknath Shinde in 2022, Ahir aligned with Shinde's faction. He was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council that same year and has now been chosen as its Deputy Chairman. After his party switch, police were deployed outside his residence this morning, where several supporters came to meet him. An officer reported that a police van and two constables were stationed outside Ahir's home in the Gulrukh building in Worli.

Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde targeted the Uddhav faction on Tuesday, coinciding with senior MLC Sachin Ahir's joining of his Shiv Sena faction and filing of nomination for the Deputy Chairman position from the Mahayuti alliance. Welcoming Ahir into the party, Shinde likened his political move to a 'masterstroke' played on the cricket field. He stated that today, Sachin Ahir played a shot akin to that of Sachin Tendulkar. Ahir is a significant leader, and today he has filled out nomination forms for both the Deputy Chairman and Mahayuti. Delivering a strong political message, Shinde dismissed allegations that his party relies on defection, instead presenting Shiv Sena as an emerging political force. He emphasized that they do not believe in breaking people apart but rather in bringing them together, working to strengthen Shiv Sena.