Mumbai: Maharashtra politics is poised for a historic moment as Sunetra Pawar, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Rajya Sabha MP, is set to be sworn in as the state’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister. The decision comes in the wake of the sudden death of her husband, veteran NCP leader Ajit Pawar, who was serving as Deputy CM until his tragic demise in a plane crash earlier this week.
The sudden vacancy in Maharashtra’s leadership created uncertainty within the ruling coalition the Mahayuti alliance comprising the NCP, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the Shiv Sena (Shinde faction). Senior NCP leaders, seeking to maintain organizational stability and continuity of governance, swiftly moved to nominate Sunetra Pawar for the influential constitutional post.
A legislature party meeting of the NCP has been scheduled in Mumbai for Saturday, January 31, where Sunetra Pawar is expected to be formally elected as the party’s legislative leader a procedural step that will clear the way for her swearing-in ceremony later that evening.
If confirmed, Sunetra Pawar’s appointment will mark a symbolic and political milestone for Maharashtra a state where executive power has traditionally been dominated by male leaders. Her elevation is being viewed by party insiders not only as recognition of her role within the NCP but also as a unifying move during a critical phase for the party.
NCP leaders believe her leadership will help consolidate support among the party’s grassroots workers and loyal voters in western Maharashtra, a region closely associated with the Pawar family’s political legacy.
While the decision rests primarily with the NCP, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has publicly indicated that the Mahayuti alliance will back the party’s choice. Fadnavis stated that the BJP-led government will stand with the NCP’s decision and expressed solidarity with the Pawar family during this transition.
Senior party leaders, including Chhagan Bhujbal and Sunil Tatkare, have played key roles in discussions regarding Sunetra Pawar’s nomination. Bhujbal confirmed that she will be named NCP legislature party leader on Saturday, after which she will be recommended for the Deputy CM post.
Sunetra Pawar, currently a Rajya Sabha member, will have to become a member of either house of the Maharashtra legislature within six months of taking the oath. This procedural requirement is expected to be met through a future election likely a by-poll for the Baramati assembly seat, which became vacant after Ajit Pawar’s passing.
Reports indicate that her responsibilities in the state cabinet could include portfolios such as Excise and Sports, while the Finance portfolio may temporarily be overseen by Chief Minister Fadnavis during the budget session.
A Rajya Sabha MP since her entry into national politics, Sunetra Pawar has a background in grassroots development and social initiatives notably in her home region around Baramati, where she led sanitation and sustainability projects that transformed rural communities. Her gradual evolution from social activism to mainstream politics has been noted by observers as a calm and measured emergence rather than a sudden ascendancy.
As Maharashtra prepares for a new chapter in governance, Sunetra Pawar’s expected swearing-in represents both continuity and change preserving her late husband’s political legacy while breaking new ground for women in leadership within the state. The coming days will be closely watched for final formalities and broader implications for the NCP’s intra-party dynamics and the Mahayuti alliance’s future coherence.