Sunetra Pawar Becomes Maharashtra’s First Woman Deputy Chief Minister, Oversees Three Ministries

Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, took oath on Thursday.

As Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister, just days after her husband and four others died in a plane crash in Baramati. She has been assigned charge of excise duty, sports and youth welfare, and minorities development. The finance and planning portfolios, previously handled by Ajit Pawar, will now be overseen by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

Earlier in the day, Sunetra Pawar, 62, was unanimously elected as the NCP Legislature Party leader. Her nomination was proposed by senior party leader Chhagan Bhujbal and seconded by Dilip Patil along with several MLAs. A formal letter was sent to Chief Minister Fadnavis, who forwarded it to Governor Acharya Devvrat for approval.

Soon after her swearing-in, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations. Rohit Pawar, MLA from Karjat-Jamkhed and a relative, posted on X that while “no one can take the place of Ajit dada,” Sunetra Pawar represents his legacy in a new form.

The appointment comes amid renewed attention on NCP reunification talks. Ajit Pawar’s uncle, Sharad Pawar, said he was not directly involved in the election of Sunetra Pawar or her appointment as deputy chief minister, clarifying that negotiations were between Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil. He added that reunification discussions continue, but he is not leading them.

Political Background

Sunetra Pawar had maintained a low profile until the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, when she contested from Baramati but was defeated by her sister-in-law and NCP (Sharad Pawar) MP Supriya Sule. She was later elected to the Rajya Sabha.

Sources told NDTV that Sunetra Pawar was informed of her elevation to deputy chief minister within hours of her husband’s death. Senior leaders of Ajit Pawar’s faction reportedly saw the appointment as a way to establish her as Ajit Pawar’s political heir and maintain the faction’s influence, amid concerns that a potential NCP merger with Sharad Pawar’s group could dilute their leadership.

Even as the state mourned Ajit Pawar’s death, political maneuvers to position Sunetra Pawar as deputy chief minister were already underway, underscoring the complex interplay of grief and party politics in Maharashtra.