MUMBAI, Jan 31: Sunetra Pawar was sworn in on Saturday as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister, three days after the death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, in a Baramati air crash.
She was assigned the excise, sports, minority development, and Aukaf portfolios, but not finance and planning, which Ajit Pawar had previously held, indicating Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will handle the key portfolio and present the state budget next month.
Sunetra, 62, resigned from the Rajya Sabha and is expected to contest the Baramati assembly by-election, previously represented by her late husband.
During the brief oath-taking ceremony at Lok Bhavan, Governor Acharya Devvrat administered the oath in the presence of Chief Minister Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, NCP leaders Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Sunetra Pawar’s son Jay Pawar and his wife.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his best wishes, expressing confidence in her ability to carry forward her late husband’s people-centric legacy.
Sunetra, a commerce graduate from a political family who entered politics in 2024, vowed to work with duty and dedication, citing Ajit Pawar’s commitment, struggle, and honesty as her guiding principles.
Earlier, the NCP elected her as the leader of its legislature wing, but Sharad Pawar said he was not consulted about her cabinet entry.
He acknowledged Ajit Pawar’s wish to merge the two NCP factions and expressed hope it would be fulfilled, though he admitted potential obstacles following Ajit’s sudden death.
While some leaders, including Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare, remained silent, Union Minister Piyush Goyal expressed skepticism about the merger.
Sunetra Pawar now assumes leadership of the NCP legislature wing, with Praful Patel appointed national president, amid continuing political realignments in the state. (PTI)
