Shiv Sena Defection Exposes Maharashtra Political Disorder

Sachin Ahir, a Member of the Legislative Council from the Shiv Sena (UBT) faction, filed his nomination for Maharashtra Legislative Council deputy chairperson as the candidate of the ruling Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. The move constitutes another departure from the Uddhav Thackeray-led camp, following the defection of six Lok Sabha MPs one week prior, and underscores the erosion of institutional loyalty within India's fractured democratic landscape.

What Does Ahir's Nomination Signal for Shiv Sena Cohesion?

Ahir submitted his nomination on Tuesday as the Mahayuti coalition candidate, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of the BJP and Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar of the NCP. The Mahayuti alliance, comprising the ruling Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP, has steadily absorbed members from the opposition faction since the original party split in 2022.

Ahir, elected as an MLC of the undivided Shiv Sena, maintained before reporters that he has not formally quit the Uddhav Thackeray-led party.