Ahir was considered one of Aaditya Thackeray’s closest confidants and a prominent face of the Uddhav Thackeray-faction .
The induction of senior Shiv Sena leader Sachin Ahir into Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena is being viewed as more than just another political defection. Political observers believe it marks the culmination of months of quiet outreach by the Shinde camp to further weaken the Shiv Sena (UBT) and consolidate its position within the original Sena organisation.
Ahir, once considered one of Aaditya Thackeray’s closest confidants and a prominent face of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction in Mumbai, formally joined the Shinde camp after remaining with the UBT faction through the initial split in 2022. His decision has sparked fresh speculation over the behind-the-scenes political manoeuvring that has been underway in Maharashtra.
Sources in political circles suggest that the Shinde camp has been pursuing a long-term strategy of reaching out to MPs, MLAs, former corporators and district-level functionaries who remained with the Uddhav Thackeray faction. Rather than relying on a single wave of defections, the effort has focused on gradually persuading leaders to switch sides, thereby strengthening the organisation while simultaneously eroding the opposition’s political base.
Given Ahir’s long-standing relationships across the Shiv Sena organisation and his influence within Mumbai’s political and labour networks, many believe he was well placed to maintain communication with leaders across factions. His own move to the Shinde camp has reinforced speculation that he may have played a role in facilitating dialogue with leaders contemplating a switch.
However, there is no publicly available evidence to conclusively establish that Ahir personally orchestrated or coordinated the defections of MPs or MLAs. While his political stature and network have fuelled such speculation, no official confirmation or documented proof has emerged to support claims that he led the operation.
