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Sunetra Pawar on Saturday took oath as Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, becoming the first woman to take this post. She took the oath days after after her
husband, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, died in a plane crash in Baramati. Currently a Rajya Sabha MP, Sunetra was unanimously elected as the party’s legislative leader after a meeting took place at the Legislative Building. She has been assigned the portfolios of excise duty, sports and youth welfare, and minority development, while finance and planning, previously held by her husband, will now be managed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
PM Modi congratulated her on taking the oath and said: "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."
'Mountain of grief, but will work tirelessly'
Minutes after the ceremony, Sunetra Pawar in her first public reaction said that she is "overwhelmed with emotions" as takes the responsibility of deputy CM in the cabinet.
"Respected Ajitdada has given us the mantra to live a lifetime for farmers, toilers, women, youth, and deprived sections. Today, carrying forward the legacy of his thoughts, staying steadfast in the principles of ‘Shiv-Shahu-Phule-Ambedkar’, I am overwhelmed with emotion as I take on the responsibility of the Deputy Chief Minister’s position with a sense of duty," Suntera said in a post on X.
"Though Dada’s untimely departure has caused a mountain of grief to crash upon my heart, the true support I have is the duty-consciousness, the strength to struggle, and the commitment to the people that he taught me. I will continue to work tirelessly with honesty to realise the just, egalitarian, and developed Maharashtra of his dreams," she added."In this difficult moment, the love and support from the people of Maharashtra is my strength. With the power of your trust, illuminating Dada’s thoughts, I will keep moving forward with new hope," she further said.
Steps up after tragedy
Until the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sunetra Pawar maintained a low public profile. She contested from Baramati as the NCP candidate that year but lost to her sister-in-law and incumbent NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule. She was later elected to the Rajya Sabha.
Also Read | A New Pawar in Power: Sunetra Pawar Takes Over Ajit Pawar’s Political Mantle
However, after Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on Wednesday (January 28), Sunetra was entrusted with all three responsibilities previously held by her husband. The plane crashed while attempting to land at the Baramati airfield around 8.48 am, and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau have dispatched probe teams to the site of the mishap to investigate.
Her name as as NCP legislative party leader and her appointment as Deputy Chief Minister were proposed by party leader Chhagan Bhujbal, seconded by Dilip Patil, and supported by several other MLAs. A formal letter informing Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis was then sent to Governor Acharya Devvrat.
Sharad Pawar's Exclusion
However, Sharad Pawar, Ajit Pawar’s uncle, said he was unaware of Sunetra’s election and subsequent appointment. Following this, Ajit Pawar’s son Parth and NCP (Sharad Pawar) MLA Rohit Pawar met Sharad Pawar to brief him on the developments. He later clarified that while reunification talks are underway, he is not directly involved, noting that discussions are occurring between Ajit Pawar and Jayant Patil.
Who Is Sunetra Pawar
Sunetra Pawar comes from Dharashiv in Marathwada. Politics runs in the family. Her brother, Padamsinh Patil, was a state minister and Lok Sabha MP. Power, negotiation and networks were familiar terrain long before she entered electoral politics.
Married to Ajit Pawar in 1985, Sunetra spent years away from the cut and thrust of daily politics. Ajit was the public face, the strategist, the deal-maker. She, on the other hand, built her influence quietly, cultivating social, educational and business networks across Baramati and Marathwada.
That discretion shaped her image. Those close to the Pawar family describe her as sharp, disciplined and deeply aware of the machinery that keeps Maharashtra politics moving. When she finally stepped into the arena, it was not tentative.
