Sachin Ahir Joins Shinde Led Shiv Sena in Blow to Aaditya Thackeray in Worli
WORLI — In a major political development following the 2024 Assembly elections, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sachin Ahir has defected to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena. The move is seen as a significant setback for Aaditya Thackeray in his Worli constituency, as Ahir was the key leader responsible for building Thackeray's local political base.
Ahir, a three-time MLA from Worli, previously represented the constituency in 1999, 2004, and 2009 as a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader. He remained one of the most influential political figures in the area for nearly 15 years. After joining the undivided Shiv Sena in July 2019, he vacated his political space to facilitate Aaditya Thackeray’s electoral debut in Worli, helping to consolidate local support.
According to party leaders, Ahir worked extensively behind the scenes to secure Thackeray’s 2019 victory, where Thackeray won by 67,427 votes against NCP candidate Suresh Mane. Ahir was subsequently accommodated in the Legislative Council in June 2022, while the then Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Shinde was shifted out, leaving the constituency to Thackeray.
With Ahir crossing over, the Shinde-led faction has acquired a leader with a deep organizational network in Worli. The switch comes at a critical time, as Thackeray’s victory margin in Worli shrank drastically in the 2024 Assembly election. Thackeray retained the seat by only 8,801 votes against Shiv Sena candidate Milind Deora, compared to his 2019 margin of over 67,000 votes.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant also secured a lead of only 6,715 votes from the Worli Assembly segment, indicating shrinking support for the party in the area.
Ahir, whose term as an MLC runs until July 2028, provides the Shinde-led Shiv Sena with an experienced Mumbai face in the legislature. When asked about contesting from Worli in the future, Ahir stated he would try to fulfill any responsibility given to him by Eknath Shinde.
Before his defection, Ahir sent a message to Thackeray assuring him he would not contest against him in Worli. Thackeray acknowledged the message but dismissed suggestions that the defection would hurt the party, stating that Worli and Sewri remain strongholds of the Shiv Sena (UBT).
