Sachin Ahir, a Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) associated with Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena (UBT), joins the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction, in a development described by multiple outlets as another setback for Thackeray’s camp. Reports say Ahir formally joins Shinde’s faction and files his nomination for the Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. News18 India adds that the confirmation comes through Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, who says Ahir has joined the party and has been given the nomination papers for the deputy chair election. NDTV similarly reports that Ahir, linked to the UBT camp, enters the Shinde-led group and submits his nomination for the deputy chair position. Separate NDTV coverage frames the defection as part of the ongoing Shiv Sena split and as further intensifying the contest over the party’s political legacy. Across the reports, the central points remain that Ahir defects from the Uddhav Thackeray camp to the Shinde faction and participates in the legislative council deputy chair election through nomination filings.