Sunetra Pawar Assumes Deputy CM Duties, Returns to Mantralaya Days After Personal Tragedy
Mumbai, 10th February 2026: Balancing grief with responsibility, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar on Tuesday stepped into her official role at Mantralaya, just 13 days after the tragic death of her husband and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar in a plane crash.
Her arrival at the state secretariat marked an emotional yet politically significant moment, symbolising both personal resilience and a transition in the state’s leadership. She was accompanied by senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leaders and her elder son, Parth Pawar, as she took her seat in the Deputy Chief Minister’s office.
Among those present on the occasion were prominent NCP figures Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, Chhagan Bhujbal, and Dhananjay Munde, underscoring the party’s solidarity during a difficult phase.
Sunetra Pawar is scheduled to attend the state cabinet meeting later in the day — the first such meeting since Ajit Pawar’s passing. She will also participate in the Business Advisory Committee meeting ahead of the February 23 Budget Session of the state legislature.
Spiritual Visits Before Official Duties
Before assuming office, Pawar travelled from Pune to Mumbai early Tuesday morning and offered prayers at the Siddhivinayak Temple. She also paid homage at Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s memorial at Chaityabhoomi in Dadar.
Accompanied by her son, she later visited the NCP headquarters, where she met party MLAs and ministers before proceeding to Mantralaya.
Sunetra Pawar was sworn in as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister on January 31, just days after the January 28 plane crash near Baramati in Pune district that claimed Ajit Pawar’s life.
She has been assigned charge of the Excise, Sports, Minority Welfare, and Aukaf departments and has also been appointed Guardian Minister for Beed and Pune districts.
In a key political development following Ajit Pawar’s death, the NCP retained control of the Pune Zilla Parishad in elections held on February 7. Results declared on Monday showed the party winning 51 of 73 seats. The NCP contested the polls in alliance with Sharad Pawar’s NCP (SP), both using the traditional ‘clock’ symbol.
The victory is being seen by party insiders as a sign of continued grassroots support despite the leadership loss.
As Sunetra Pawar formally begins her administrative responsibilities, the moment represents both continuity in governance and a deeply personal chapter in Maharashtra’s political landscape.
