Sanjay Raut slams Sachin Ahir's defection to Shinde camp with sharp jibe
Synopsis
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut chose verse before venom — posting a poem on X before declaring there is no reason to mourn those who entered the party carrying 'a bug of selfishness.' The target: legislator Sachin Ahir, who has crossed to the Eknath Shinde camp. Ahir's counter — asking why he was not called selfish when he first joined — adds a sharp edge to Maharashtra's latest political defection drama.
Key Takeaways
Sanjay Raut on 30 June attacked Sachin Ahir's move to the Eknath Shinde camp via a post on X , questioning why anyone should grieve those who joined the party out of selfishness.
Aaditya Thackeray said Ahir had received every possible position — ward committee, BEST , deputy leader post, union presidency — and questioned what more could have been offered.
Ahir rejected the selfishness charge, asking why he was not labelled selfish when he originally joined the Uddhav Thackeray faction.
Ahir, speaking at a press conference alongside Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde , said he would respond to the criticism 'at the appropriate political forum.' The defection is the latest in a series of exits from the Shiv Sena (UBT) since the 2022 split that divided the original party.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut on Tuesday, 30 June launched a pointed attack on party legislator Sachin Ahir after Ahir crossed over to the Eknath Shinde faction, questioning why anyone should mourn the departure of those who entered the party driven by selfishness and dishonesty. The remarks sharpened the already fractious political climate in Maharashtra, with multiple leaders from both sides trading barbs through the day.
Raut's Poetic Strike on Social Media
Taking to social media platform X, Raut opened with verse before turning blunt. He shared the poetic lines: 'Why should we even hope for four rays of light? Why should we wait for those who were never truly ours?' He then followed up with a harder-edged statement: 'Why should we grieve the departure of those who enter the party with a bug of selfishness and dishonesty already inside them?' The twin-pronged message — one lyrical, one direct — was widely read as a barely veiled reference to Ahir's switch.
Aaditya Thackeray Questions What More Could Have Been Given
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray echoed the frustration, saying the pattern of those who received the most being the first to leave was neither surprising nor new. 'We have been observing this for the past four days, and indeed for the last four years — those who are closest and have received everything are the very ones leaving for their own selfish interests. Therefore, there is nothing surprising or shocking about this,' he said.
Aaditya was pointed about the access and positions Ahir had enjoyed. 'Whether it was the ward committee, BEST, the post of deputy leader in Shiv Sena, or the union presidency — there was daily interaction and communication. This begs the question, what more do you want?' he added. He also noted that constituencies like Worli and Sewri have historically been Shiv Sena strongholds and that one individual's departure would not dent the party's base there.
Ahir Hits Back, Denies Selfishness Charge
Sachin Ahir, speaking alongside Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde at a press conference, strongly rejected the allegations. 'It is unfortunate that as long as we were together, we were seen as good, but the moment we part ways, we are labelled unworthy. I will respond to this criticism at the appropriate political forum,' he said.
Countering Raut's selfishness charge directly, Ahir asked: 'Was I not selfish when I joined their group earlier? If I wasn't then, why am I now? I have always strived to fulfil the responsibilities entrusted to me by Uddhav and Aaditya Thackeray with full dedication.' He also claimed to have worked extensively to strengthen the party's organisation in Pune district, and cited his record as corporator, legislator, and minister as evidence of his commitment.
Political Fallout and What Comes Next
Ahir's defection is the latest in a series of exits from the Uddhav Thackeray camp that have punctuated Maharashtra politics since the 2022 split that divided the original Shiv Sena. Observers are watching closely for further reactions from the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership and whether additional legislators may follow Ahir's path. The episode underscores the continuing pressure on the Thackeray faction to retain its organisational base ahead of future electoral contests.
Point of View
The problem is not individual ingratitude but the faction's diminishing ability to offer credible political futures. Aaditya Thackeray's 'what more could we give?' framing, while emotionally resonant, inadvertently concedes that the party's currency — patronage — is under pressure. Ahir's counter, asking why selfishness was not the charge when he first joined, is the kind of question that tends to linger in the minds of other legislators watching their own options.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Sanjay Raut criticise Sachin Ahir?
Sanjay Raut criticised Sachin Ahir after Ahir defected from the Shiv Sena (UBT) to the Eknath Shinde faction. Raut posted on X questioning why anyone should mourn the departure of those who joined the party out of selfishness and dishonesty.
Which camp has Sachin Ahir joined?
Sachin Ahir has joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction. He appeared alongside Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde at a press conference on 30 June to address the allegations levelled against him.
What did Aaditya Thackeray say about Ahir's departure?
Aaditya Thackeray said the pattern of those who received the most being the first to leave was neither surprising nor new, citing four years of such departures. He listed the positions Ahir held — including ward committee roles, BEST, deputy leader post, and union presidency — and asked what more could have been provided.
How did Sachin Ahir respond to the selfishness allegations?
Ahir rejected the charge, asking why he was not considered selfish when he originally joined the Uddhav Thackeray faction. He said he had always fulfilled his responsibilities with dedication and cited his organisational work in Pune district as evidence.
What is the background to this defection?
The defection is the latest fallout from the 2022 split that divided the original Shiv Sena into the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Eknath Shinde faction. Multiple legislators and leaders have switched sides since then, keeping Maharashtra's political climate volatile.
