Shiv Sena Uddhav Camp plays down import of Sachin Ahir's exit to join Shinde faction

Mumbai, June 30 -- The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Tuesday attempted to downplay the significance of Sachin Ahir's defection to the Eknath Shinde camp.

Party spokesperson and Rajya Sabha MP Sunil Raut dismissed the move as a "minor incident," stating, "The Shiv Sena has survived much tougher challenges. Sachin Ahir is not a mass leader, and his departure will not affect the party's standing."BJP leader and state minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule seized the opportunity to target Uddhav Thackeray's leadership blaming him for the exit of his six Lok Sabha MPs and now Sachin Ahir.

"Uddhav Thackeray's ego is the primary reason for his party's downfall. In.stead of criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he should have focused on his own house. If he ...