Mumbai

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray suffered another setback on Tuesday after its Legislative Council member Sachin Ahir joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena.

Ahir also filed his nomination for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council as the Shiv Sena candidate. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar accompanied Ahir as he filed the nomination.

The latest development comes after six Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha MPs -- Sanjay Haribhau Jadhav, Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure, Omprakash Bhupalsingh Nimbalkar, Sanjay Dina Patil, Sanjay Uttamrao Deshmukh and Nagesh Bapurao Patil Ashtikar -- formally joined the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, leading to the success of "Operation Tiger."

The defection had reduced Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT)'s strength in the Lok Sabha, marking another major setback for the party following the 2022 split.

Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday, while addressing a large public gathering in Dharashiv, questioned the political developments in Maharashtra and targetting those responsible for the split in Shiv Sena.

"Why are they breaking the Shiv Sena? They want to finish Maharashtra, finish Shiv Sena, and finish Maharashtra Dharma."

He also raised concerns over industrial development in the State, alleging a shift in investment away from Maharashtra. "In the last ten years, has even one company come to Maharashtra? Everything goes to Gujarat, Gujarat," Thackeray said.

Drawing a comparison with the legacy of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, he added, "Balasaheb's Shiv Sena cannot be measured by the number of MLAs and MPs." The rally is being seen as part of the Shiv Sena (UBT) leadership's efforts to consolidate its organisational base and counter the political impact of recent defections.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut challenged the rebel leader to resign and face the public again if he is confident in his decision.

READ MORE: Fauzia Dastango's journey of reviving the art of storytelling

"If you want to commit treachery, then resign, stand for election again, and then you will see whether the people of Yavatmal-Washim are with the traitors or with the loyalists. This ocean of loyalists will not rest until it has swept away these traitors," he added.

The Shiv Sena (UBT) leader asserted that the party would "rise from the ashes" and maintain its hold over Maharashtra despite the vertical split in 2022.