Uddhav Thackeray’s camp is feeling some fresh turbulence after senior MLC Sachin Ahir put in an appearance with Eknath Shinde and put his papers down for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. The Tuesday move is one to firm up the hold of those in power and let the opposition see some more of its ground give way.
In the eyes of the Shinde-led bloc, it is as much about when and what you go for as who you get. Putting up Ahir for a constitutional role right out of the gate is their way of showing they have the numbers and are set on holding down the fort.
Ruling camp moves fast
It was done in a day: Ahir made with Eknath Shinde’s party and then put in for the Deputy Chairman slot. Shrikant Shinde can vouch for it, saying he was given the form once he was in, a sign of how ready the organisation is.
All this is another mark against Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), which has been fielding defections since the break-up. You could also say it follows hard on the heels of some Lok Sabha shuffling that has put the Shinde side in a better position in the Mahayuti.
Why Ahir’s move stings Uddhav faction
There is a certain poignancy to this because of how close Ahir has been to Aaditya Thackeray. As a former MLA from Worli – a seat now in Aaditya’s hands – the switch is as much a statement as it is a tactic.
He has been around the block, with stints in the Congress and NCP before the undivided Shiv Sena. He made the jump at the same time as Aaditya was making his foray in Worli, seen by many as a way to make the young leader’s path a little easier in a secure area.
Signals for Legislative Council dynamics
Then there is the nomination. It is not just for show; it is a way for the ruling side to say they are in command and want to run the Council their way.
The Shinde faction comes out on top here, picking up a veteran from the other side and building some headway before the election. For UBT, it is a matter of face and structure.
Here is what you need to know:
– Sachin Ahir is with Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena now
– Has put in for the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council
– Shrikant Shinde has put a seal on the move
– Another piece of strength leaves the Uddhav side
Aftershock of the 2022 split
You can trace it back to 2022, when Shinde left with most of the MLAs and eventually the party’s identity. The ripples from that are still being felt in every corner.
The deputy chief minister would have you believe the six MPs who hopped over last week were part of a ‘second phase’ of that original rebellion. It is less of an isolated event and more of a reordering of the deck.
Momentum is everything. Every time someone crosses over, UBT has to rethink its plans, in places where the Thackeray name means something. The push in the Legislative Council is just another angle in the game.
What comes next
Eyes are on the coming election for Deputy Chairman in the Council. The early filing from the Shinde side says they are in no rush, while UBT has to figure out how to hold the line and keep spirits up.
The message to the rank and file is plain: the 2022 alignments are still up in the air. There will be an institutional test, but in the end it will be in strongholds like Worli and in the legislature where it is decided.
The stakes in a nutshell:
– A change in Council leadership means a change in how things are run
– Some churning in the works for Worli
– UBT has to put a stop to any more walkouts
With the ruling side pressing home, Uddhav Thackeray has to deal with the numbers and the optics of it all. In a way, Sachin Ahir has made this a very consequential week for them.
