Sunetra Pawar Sworn In as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister After Ajit Pawar’s Demise

Mumbai, 31st January 2026: Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, was sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Saturday in a subdued ceremony at Raj Bhavan. Party leaders said she is the first woman to hold the Deputy Chief Minister post in the state.

The oath of office and secrecy was administered by the Governor in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and senior leaders from both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the NCP.

The swearing-in comes days after Ajit Pawar’s sudden death in a plane crash, which left a significant leadership gap in both the state government and the party’s legislative wing.

Unanimous Legislature Party Leader

Earlier in the day, Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected as the leader of the NCP legislature party at a meeting of party MLAs. Senior leader Dilip Walse Patil proposed her name, seconded by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, and the resolution was passed without opposition.

Following her election as legislature party leader, Sunetra Pawar resigned from her Rajya Sabha seat to take up her new executive role in the state government. Slogans of “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” echoed inside the legislature complex, reflecting the emotional tone among party ranks.

Born on October 18, 1963, in Dharashiv district in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region, Sunetra Pawar hails from a political family. She is the sister of senior leader and former minister Padmasinh Patil, a long-time associate of Sharad Pawar.

After marrying Ajit Pawar in 1980, she largely remained away from active politics, focusing on agriculture and social work in Baramati. She contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but did not win. She was later nominated to the Rajya Sabha.

Leadership Transition Amid Grief-
Ajit Pawar’s untimely demise created a leadership vacuum in the NCP and Maharashtra’s political landscape. Party leaders moved swiftly to ensure continuity by elevating Sunetra Pawar to legislative leadership and the Deputy Chief Minister post.

While her ministerial portfolio has not yet been announced, party insiders indicate responsibilities will be allocated in the coming days. The ceremony was intentionally modest, aligning with the ongoing period of mourning following Ajit Pawar’s death.