Mumbai NCP chief Sachin Ahir joins Shiv Sena

Mumbai: In a setback to the NCP, its Mumbai unit chief and former Maharashtra minister Sachin Ahir joined the Shiv Sena here on Thursday. Hewas welcomed into the Sena by party president Uddhav Thackeray and Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray.

In 2014, he lost the Assembly election to Shiv Sena’s Sunil Shinde. Ahir told PTI he had no grudge against the NCP. “But some unavoidable political decisions had to be taken considering the prevailing situation,” he said.

Ahir said a couple of days back, he met Aaditya Thackeray at a social event where the latter told him that the Shiv Sena needed leaders like him, who were “well-versed in urban politics”.

“The Shiv Sena is in power in most of the municipal corporations in the state. I can use my expertise gained as a minister for the development of cities. Hence, I took the decision to work for the development of cities by being in power,” he said.

Ahir said a decision on whether he will contest the forthcoming state Assembly poll from Worli will be taken soon. The state polls are due in September-October.