Mumbai, June 30 -- In a significant political realignment, senior Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sachin Ahir officially defected to the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena today.
The development, which serves as a major blow to the Thackeray faction, was confirmed as Ahir filed his nomination for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council as a candidate of the ruling Mahayuti alliance.
Addressing a press conference following the induction, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde dismissed allegations of political poaching, asserting that the party is focused on "addition rather than subtraction".
Drawing a parallel to the recent defection of six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs, he remarked that the opposition's "wickets are falling" an...