Clara.LewisMumbai: Sachin Ahir was elected unanimously as deputy chairperson of the state legislative council on Wednesday. The opposition’s candidate, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLC Jagannath Abhyankar, withdrew his nomination, paving the way for Ahir’s election unopposed.Though Ahir had been with UBT Sena, on Tuesday he filed his nomination for the post from Shiv Sena as Mahayuti candidate. Setting to rest doubts about the legality and propriety of Ahir’s nomination and election to the post, CM Devendra Fadnavis said all doubts had been set to rest on 18 July, 2023, when Neelam Gorhe became deputy chairperson. When Ahir was elected to the council in 2022, Fadnavis said it was on the Shiv Sena symbol of bow and arrow, and no change has occurred. “I am confident no one will ask those questions because when Neelam-tai became (deputy chairperson), I responded to all those questions, so there is clarity on the issue. Whether his decision is proper, improper, whether there is defection… there is no such thing. It is proper… legally he has become deputy chairperson,” said Fadnavis, who moved the resolution for election of Ahir as council deputy chairperson.Dy CM Eknath Shinde said he had broken the ‘dahi handi’ two months in advance. Ahir was the first to organise a ‘dahi handi’ competition on Janmashtami in Mumbai, and it has now become an annual feature.Ahir, after his election to the council on the Shiv Sena symbol, had always identified with Sena (UBT) and sat on the opposition benches. His nomination to the post of deputy chairperson of the council as a Shinde Sena candidate was very quietly executed and came as a shock to Sena (UBT). MLC Anil Parab of Shiv Sena (UBT) said no one got a whiff.Fadnavis said Ahir had worked under Sharad Pawar, so he knew the right time to hit a goal. “In public life it is very important to make the proper decision at the proper time,” Fadnavis said.Parab said though they are very few legislators in the opposition, five of the Sena (UBT), five from Congress and two from NCP (SP), state parliamentary affairs minister Chandrakant Patil reached out and requested the opposition to withdraw its candidate Jagannath Abhyankar. “Ahir being nominated crushed the dreams of many others and despite a majority, there was fear in the ruling party about a contest. Just as the opposition allowed the deputy chairperson to be elected unanimously, the post of opposition leader must be given,” Parab said.Ahir said though his political affiliations had changed, his commitment to the common people remained unchanged.
