Sachin Ahir Unanimously Elected Maharashtra Council Deputy Chairman After MVA Backs Out

Published 1 July 2026 · politics

Sachin Ahir Unanimously Elected Maharashtra Council Deputy Chairman After MVA Backs Out Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: July 01, 2026, 15:18 IST Sachin Ahir

Sachin Ahir Unanimously Elected Maharashtra Council Deputy Chairman After MVA Backs Out Reported By, Edited By Last Updated: July 01, 2026, 15:18 IST Sachin Ahir of Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde is unanimously elected Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council after Opposition withdraws its candidate A file photo of Sachin Ahir (PTI) Maharashtra Legislative Council member Sachin Ahir of the Shiv Sena led by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde was unanimously elected as the Deputy Chairman of the Upper House on Wednesday after the Opposition withdrew its candidate, paving the way for a consensus vote. The ruling Mahayuti had nominated Ahir, while the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) had fielded Shiv Sena (UBT) member Jagannath Abhyankar. With the Mahayuti enjoying a comfortable majority in the Council, Ahir’s victory was never in doubt. However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Chandrakant Patil appealed to the Opposition to withdraw its nomination in keeping with the House’s traditions.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Anil Parab accepted the request, saying the Opposition wanted the election to reflect the collective will of the House. Ahir was subsequently elected through a voice vote in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. Congratulating the newly elected Deputy Chairman, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described Ahir as a fearless, balanced and experienced legislator capable of conducting the proceedings of the House impartially. Recalling that both entered the Assembly together in 1999, Fadnavis said Ahir had built his political career through grassroots activism and earned a reputation for giving well-informed and measured replies as a minister. He expressed confidence that Ahir would uphold the dignity of the Chair and ensure justice to members across party lines. Fadnavis also acknowledged the contribution of former Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe, saying she handled the responsibilities effectively even during politically turbulent periods.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde welcomed Ahir’s elevation with a cricket analogy, saying, “One Sachin has retired after creating history, now another Sachin is ready to begin a new innings." He praised Ahir’s calm temperament, his deep connection with the labour movement and his long record of social work. Ahir’s election marks another significant milestone in his political journey and also underlines the shifting political equations in Maharashtra. A three-time MLA from Worli, he served as Minister of State for Housing before moving from the Nationalist Congress Party to the undivided Shiv Sena in 2019. Following the split in the Sena, Ahir remained with the Uddhav Thackeray faction before switching to the Shinde-led Shiv Sena just a day before filing his nomination for the Deputy Chairman’s post. His unanimous election, backed even by the Opposition’s decision to step aside, sends a message of institutional consensus while reinforcing the Mahayuti’s numerical dominance in the Legislative Council, where the BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP together command a comfortable majority.