Sunetra Pawar to be sworn in as Maharashtra Deputy CM after Ajit Pawar’s death

Mumbai: Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, is set to take oath as Maharashtra’s new Deputy Chief Minister tomorrow, sources confirmed on Friday. The appointment marks a historic moment, as she will be the first woman to hold the post since it was created in 1978 during the coalition government era in the state.

The decision comes in the wake of Ajit Pawar’s sudden death in a tragic plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday, which left a leadership vacuum in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). Following his demise, several party leaders had advocated for Sunetra Pawar to succeed her late husband in the Devendra Fadnavis-led cabinet. Sources confirmed that she has consented to take on the responsibility.

Senior minister Chhagan Bhujbal had earlier stated that the NCP legislature party would convene to formally elect her as its leader, a procedural step required before her swearing-in. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reportedly expressed no objections to her oath-taking, provided all party formalities were completed.

A source familiar with the developments said, “Tomorrow (Saturday), a parliamentary board meeting of the party will take place in Mumbai, where Sunetra Pawar will be elected as the leader of the NCP legislature party...It is likely that she will be sworn-in as Deputy Chief Minister by tomorrow evening.”

Currently a Rajya Sabha MP, Sunetra Pawar is not a member of the Maharashtra legislature. However, the Baramati assembly seat, previously held by her late husband, has now fallen vacant, paving the way for her political entry into the state assembly.

Sunetra Pawar had maintained a low political profile until the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when she contested from Baramati but lost to her sister-in-law and incumbent MP Supriya Sule. She later secured her position in the Rajya Sabha, representing her party at the national level.