Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, was sworn in today as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister, just days after her husband and four others lost their lives in a plane crash near Baramati.

She has been assigned key departments including excise, sports and youth welfare, and minority development. The finance and planning portfolios previously overseen by Ajit Pawar will now be handled by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Earlier in the day, Sunetra Pawar, 62, was unanimously chosen as the leader of the NCP Legislature Party. Her nomination was proposed by senior leader Chhagan Bhujbal and backed by Dilip Patil along with multiple party MLAs. The decision was formally communicated to Chief Minister Fadnavis and subsequently forwarded to Governor Acharya Devvrat for approval.

Following her oath-taking ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations and best wishes.

Rohit Pawar, the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA and a close family member, shared an emotional message stating that while Ajit Pawar’s absence leaves an irreplaceable void, Sunetra Pawar’s leadership offers a sense of continuity in his legacy. He also acknowledged the difficulty of celebrating political milestones while the family and party remain in deep mourning.

Attention has now shifted to ongoing discussions regarding a possible reunification within the NCP. Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s uncle, said he was initially unaware of Sunetra Pawar’s appointment but later confirmed that merger talks are underway, though he is not directly involved. He indicated that the discussions are primarily between Ajit Pawar’s faction and Jayant Patil.

Political Background

Until recently, Sunetra Pawar maintained a relatively low public political profile. During the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, she contested from Baramati but was defeated by her sister-in-law, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MP Supriya Sule. She was later elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Sources indicate that the decision to elevate her to the Deputy Chief Minister’s post was conveyed soon after Ajit Pawar’s death, as party leaders sought to ensure leadership continuity. Many within the Ajit Pawar-led faction reportedly preferred positioning Sunetra Pawar as his political successor rather than pursuing a merger that could strengthen Sharad Pawar’s influence within the party.

Even amid personal grief, political planning moved swiftly, with senior leaders rallying in Baramati and discussions unfolding about the party’s future direction and leadership structure.