India, July 5 -- Ahir was considered one of Aaditya Thackeray's closest confidants and a prominent face of the Uddhav Thackeray-faction .

The induction of senior Shiv Sena leader Sachin Ahir into Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena is being viewed as more than just another political defection. Political observers believe it marks the culmination of months of quiet outreach by the Shinde camp to further weaken the Shiv Sena (UBT) and consolidate its position within the original Sena organisation.

Ahir, once considered one of Aaditya Thackeray's closest confidants and a prominent face of the Uddhav Thackeray-led faction in Mumbai, formally joined the Shinde camp after remaining with the UBT faction through the initial split in 2022. ...