A fresh political setback has hit the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) after senior MLC Sachin Ahir switched allegiance to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s Shiv Sena and was immediately fielded for a key constitutional post in the Maharashtra Legislative Council.

Ahir on Tuesday formally joined the Shinde-led faction and submitted his nomination for the post of Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, signalling the ruling alliance’s confidence in securing the position.

The development is being viewed as another erosion of strength for the Uddhav Thackeray camp, which has faced a series of defections since the split in the Shiv Sena reshaped Maharashtra's political landscape.