Claim
Uddhav Thackeray's close aide Sachin Ahir defected today to Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena, which has decided to make him deputy chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, and he filed his nomination the same day.
“उद्धव ठाकरे के करीबी सचिन अहीर ने आज पाला बदल लिया। सचिन अहीर शिंदे की सेना में शामिल हो गए। एकनाथ शिंदे ने सचिन अहीर को विधान परिषद में वाइस चेयरमैन बनाने का फैसला किया है।”▶ Watch source segment
Rationale
Multiple independent outlets confirm that on 2026-06-30 Sachin Ahir, an MLC from the Uddhav Thackeray camp (specifically close to Aaditya Thackeray), joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena and filed his nomination the same day for Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council as the Mahayuti candidate, with the party's decision to elevate him to that post. He was elected uncontested the following day. Every element of the claim—defection date, joining Shinde's Sena, the deputy chairman decision, and same-day nomination—matches the reporting; the only minor nuance is that he is most precisely described as a close aide of Aaditya Thackeray within Uddhav's faction rather than of Uddhav personally.
Evidence
- https://www.republicworld.com/india/breaking-big-blow-to-aaditya-thackeray-in-worli-shiv-sena-ubt-mla-sachin-ahir-joins-shinde-camp-2026-06-30-130573 Reports on 2026-06-30 that Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Sachin Ahir, a Worli figure and close aide of the Thackeray camp, joined Eknath Shinde's Shiv Sena that day. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.theweek.in/news/india/2026/06/30/another-jolt-for-shiv-sena-ubt-sachin-ahir-switches-sides-runs-for-key-council-post-against-thackerays-candidate.html Confirms Ahir switched sides on 2026-06-30 and filed nomination for Deputy Chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council against the Thackeray-backed candidate. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/sachin-ahir-elected-maharashtra-legislative-council-deputy-chairman-a-day-after-joining-shinde-sena Confirms nomination for Deputy Chairman was filed in the presence of CM Fadnavis and Deputy CM Shinde; Ahir was unanimously elected the next day after the MVA candidate withdrew. ✓ reachable · archived
- https://www.lokmattimes.com/maharashtra/who-is-sachin-ahir-aaditya-thackeray-aide-joins-eknath-shinde-faction-a517/ Profiles Ahir as an Uddhav/Aaditya Thackeray aide who joined the Shinde faction. ✓ reachable · archived