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Maharashtra Minister Sanjay Shirsat on Tuesday said the Mahayuti alliance has proposed Shiv Sena leader Sachin Ahir's name for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, describing the move as a significant political development and taking a swipe at the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT).
Speaking to reporters after Ahir filed his nomination, Shirsat said Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Legislative Council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe and other leaders were present during the filing of the nomination. "Today was the time to file the application for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council. For that, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Neelam Gorhe, and all of us were present. Everyone was curious about whose form would be filled out today. But Eknath Shinde Saheb once again conducted an operation on UBT and for the post of Deputy Chairman, we have filed the application of Sachin Ahir," Shirsat said. Praising Ahir, the minister said he had a long political career and enjoyed strong support in Mumbai's Worli constituency. "Sachin Ahir is a core Shiv Sainik. He has not changed parties but has entered Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). He has been a Minister of State and has a hold in the Worli area. Even an activist like him was being suppressed. This is the explosion of that," he said. Shirsat claimed the decision reflected the sentiments of Shiv Sena workers and asserted that Eknath Shinde had the authority to take decisions regarding candidates in the party's interest. He also alleged that more leaders from the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) could join the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the coming days. "The influx into Shiv Sena is so strong now. Eknath Shinde is taking all the decisions about how many people will come. Our estimate is that except for Aaditya Thackeray, everyone else will come to Shiv Sena," Shirsat claimed. The remarks came after Shiv Sena (UBT) Legislative Council member Sachin Ahir joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena and filed his nomination for the post of Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council as the party's candidate. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar accompanied Ahir during the filing of his nomination. The development follows the recent induction of six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs into the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, dealing another setback to the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction after the party's split in 2022. (ANI)
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