Sachin Ahir elected unopposed as Maharashtra Council Deputy Chairperson
Synopsis
Less than 24 hours after defecting from Shiv Sena (UBT), Sachin Ahir was elected unopposed as Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council on 1 July 2025 — a rapid constitutional elevation that underscores the Mahayuti coalition's tightening hold on the Upper House and delivers another significant blow to the Uddhav Thackeray camp.
Key Takeaways
Sachin Ahir was elected unopposed as Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council on 1 July 2025 .
Opposition MVA nominee J M Abhyankar withdrew his candidature, paving the way for a unanimous election.
Ahir defected from Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Eknath Shinde -led faction less than 24 hours before his election.
The defection does not trigger anti-defection proceedings as Ahir was originally elected under the 'bow and arrow' symbol, now recognised with the Shinde faction.
The development is the latest setback for Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT), which has already lost six Lok Sabha MPs to defections.
Sachin Ahir, who defected from the Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, was on Wednesday, 1 July 2025, elected unopposed as the Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council — less than 24 hours after switching political camps. The unanimous election marked a swift constitutional reward for one of the Upper House's most prominent defections in recent months.
How the Election Unfolded
The path to Ahir's uncontested victory was cleared when the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) nominee, J M Abhyankar, withdrew his candidature in keeping with the traditional conventions governing the Maharashtra Upper House. Following the withdrawal, the presiding officer formally announced Ahir's election to the constitutional post.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar, along with several ruling and opposition members, extended congratulations to Ahir and wished him well in the role.
The Defection That Preceded It
Ahir had filed his nomination on Tuesday in the presence of Chief Minister Fadnavis and both Deputy Chief Ministers — barely a day after formally crossing over from the Shiv Sena (UBT) camp. He had been regarded as a close confidante of Aaditya Thackeray, making the switch particularly significant for the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction.
Crucially, because Ahir was originally elected to the Legislative Council in July 2022 under the unified Shiv Sena's 'bow and arrow' symbol — now recognised with the Shinde faction — the defection does not attract anti-defection disqualification proceedings under the Tenth Schedule.
Another Blow to Shiv Sena (UBT)
Ahir's elevation delivers a fresh setback to the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), which has already seen six of its Lok Sabha MPs switch sides in recent months. The cumulative erosion of leadership figures and legislative strength has raised questions about the faction's organisational resilience heading into future electoral cycles.
Deputy Chief Minister Shinde welcomed the development, noting that Ahir's background in municipal coordination, legislative affairs, and Mumbai's labour union politics would strengthen the Mahayuti coalition's functioning in the Upper House.
Opposition's Position
MVA leaders indicated that the decision to withdraw their candidate was a deliberate choice to uphold the dignity and collaborative traditions of the state legislature — framing the concession as principled rather than a concession of weakness. This comes amid a broader pattern in Maharashtra's Upper House where constitutional posts have frequently been decided by political arithmetic rather than contest.
With Ahir now occupying a key constitutional position, the Mahayuti alliance consolidates its grip on both chambers of the Maharashtra legislature ahead of what is expected to be a politically active second half of 2025.
Point of View
Framed as tradition, also reflects a pragmatic read of the numbers rather than any genuine deference to convention.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sachin Ahir and why was he elected Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council?
Sachin Ahir is a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council who defected from Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. He was elected unopposed as Deputy Chairperson on 1 July 2025 after the MVA withdrew its rival candidate, consolidating the Mahayuti coalition's hold on the Upper House.
Why did the opposition MVA withdraw its candidate for the Deputy Chairperson election?
The MVA withdrew its nominee J M Abhyankar citing the traditional conventions and collaborative norms of the Maharashtra Upper House. The decision also reflected the coalition's recognition of the ruling Mahayuti's numerical strength in the Legislative Council.
Will Sachin Ahir face anti-defection proceedings after switching to the Shinde camp?
No. Because Ahir was originally elected to the Legislative Council in July 2022 under the unified Shiv Sena's 'bow and arrow' symbol — which is currently recognised with the Shinde faction — his switch does not attract disqualification under the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution.
What does Ahir's defection mean for Shiv Sena (UBT)?
It is a significant blow to the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction, which has now lost a senior MLC with expertise in municipal coordination, legislative affairs, and Mumbai's labour union politics. This follows the earlier defection of six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs, further weakening the party's legislative presence.
Who congratulated Sachin Ahir on his election?
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, and several ruling as well as opposition members formally congratulated Ahir following the announcement of his election as Deputy Chairperson.
