Setback for NCP: Party's Mumbai chief Sachin Ahir likely to join Shiv Sena, say sources

Update at 11:15 AM: Mumbai NCP chief Sachin Ahir joined Shiv Sena in the presence of party chief Uddhav Thackeray and Aaditya Thackeray.

In a major setback for the Shard-Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra, former Minister and its Mumbai chief Sachin Ahir is in touch with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena, sources told on Thursday.

This development has come ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly elections which are scheduled to take place later this year. As per sources, Sachin Ahir held a meeting of his supporters and expressed his views in taking the big step soon in his political journey.

With his interest in contesting from the Byculla seat, Ahir is likely to announce his exit from the NCP on Thursday. Sachin Ahir has served as the Minister of State of Housing, Slum Improvement, House Repairs and Re-Construction, Urban Land Ceiling, Industries, Mines, Social Justice, De-addiction Activities & Environment among other portfolios in the former government in the state. 

Earlier in May, senior NCP leader and former minister Jaydutt Kshirsagar had jumped the ship and joined the Shiv Sena. 

READ | Maharashtra Poster War: Shiv Sena Poster Claiming Next CM From Its Party Put Up In Nasik Despite Fadnavis-Thackeray Understanding

Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena party has been pushing for their youth leader and Uddhav Thackeray's son Aaditya for the post of Chief Minister in the upcoming Assembly polls. While the leaders of Sena's ally BJP have been vouching for the next CM from the saffron party, Shiv Sainiks have also put out posters declaring Aaditya Thackeray as the party's candidate for the post.

Responding to rumours on Aaditya Thackeray's contest in the state assembly elections, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut had said that it is upon Uddhav Thackeray to take a decision on the same, however, batting for the youth leader for the post. 

"Uddhav Thackeray will decide whether Aaditya will contest or not but Maharashtra needs a young CM like Aaditya Thackeray and we believe that the people of Maharashtra will accept him as their CM," he had said. 

On the other hand, Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray met Congress parliamentary party leader and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi at 10 Janpath in Delhi on July 8, sparking speculations over an alleged alliance ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra.

READ | Raj Thackeray Meets Sonia Gandhi, Sparks Speculations Over Tie-up Ahead Of Maharashtra Assembly Elections