Sunetra Pawar becomes Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister after the death of her husband Ajit Pawar in a plane crash, vowing to carry his legacy.
Sunetra Pawar, 62, was relatively low-profile before entering front-line politics, focusing on social work and cooperative sector initiatives for years. (Videograb)
Sunetra Pawar on Saturday took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, becoming the first woman to hold the position in the state’s history. The ceremony took place at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai and was presided over by Governor Acharya Devvrat in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. Her appointment came just days after the tragic death of her husband and former Deputy CM Ajit Pawar in a plane crash on January 28.
Sunetra Pawar, 62, was relatively low-profile before entering front-line politics, focusing on social work and cooperative sector initiatives for years. She entered politics more actively over the past few years and became a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha. Despite losing a high-profile Lok Sabha contest in 2024 from Baramati, she continued her political journey, which has now led her to this historic appointment.
The Deputy Chief Minister position became vacant after Ajit Pawar’s unexpected death in a plane crash in Baramati on January 28. The accident shocked the state and left political leadership in flux. Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected as the leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Legislature Party, a key step before taking her oath as Deputy Chief Minister.
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Sunetra Pawar, leader of the NCP legislative party and wife of late Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, takes oath as Deputy CM of Maharashtra at the Lok Bhavan
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy CM Eknath Shinde and other leaders present. pic.twitter.com/qL8IIvNeoR— ANI (@ANI) January 31, 2026
Ahead of her oath, senior NCP leaders, including Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and Chhagan Bhujbal, met Chief Minister Fadnavis to forward her leadership letter to the governor.
The atmosphere at the oath-taking ceremony was deeply emotional. NCP supporters chanted slogans like “Ajit dada amar rahe” (Long live Ajit Dada), “Vahini saheb aage badho, hum tumhare saath hain” (We stand with our sister-in-law).
These chants reflected both grief and support from party workers and followers.
Sunetra Pawar’s appointment marks a significant milestone in Maharashtra politics as she became the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of the state. Her elevation to this role carries symbolic importance, highlighting increased female representation at the highest levels of state governance.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also acknowledged her appointment on social media:
“Best wishes to Sunetra Pawar Ji as she begins her tenure as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, the first woman to hold this responsibility. I am confident she will work tirelessly for the welfare of the people of the state and fulfil the vision of the late Ajitdada Pawar.”
After the oath, Sunetra Pawar took on key departments in the Maharashtra government, including excise, sports, and minorities development. Chief Minister Fadnavis retained planning and finance portfolios temporarily, a decision seen as part of the administrative transition following Ajit Pawar’s passing.
As a Rajya Sabha MP, Sunetra Pawar can legally take the oath as Deputy CM even without being a member of the state legislature. However, according to Article 164 (4) of the Indian Constitution, she must be elected as either an MLA or MLC within six months of taking office to continue in the post. This constitutional provision ensures that her appointment aligns with legislative norms.
Sunetra Pawar’s appointment has sparked a range of reactions. Many in the NCP and allied parties welcomed the move as a way to stabilise leadership after Ajit Pawar’s sudden death. The swift transition also reflects efforts to maintain cohesion within the party and government alliance.
However, some observers noted the speed of her elevation, coming just days after the tragedy, as unusual in the context of traditional mourning practices in Indian politics. Nevertheless, the NCP leadership characterised the move as a tribute to Ajit Pawar’s legacy and a continuation of his political vision.
