Sunetra Pawar to Take Oath as Maharashtra Deputy CM After Ajit Pawar’s Death

Maharashtra’s political landscape has entered a critical phase following the sudden death of senior Nationalist Congress Party leader and Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a tragic plane crash. Amid grief and uncertainty, his wife Sunetra Pawar is set to take oath as the new Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra later today.

Sunetra Pawar was unanimously elected as the leader of the NCP Legislature Party during a meeting held at the Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai. Her elevation is being seen as both a continuity move and a stabilising decision for the party at a moment of emotional and political flux. Once sworn in, she will become the first woman Deputy Chief Minister in Maharashtra’s history, a landmark moment in the state’s politics.

The oath ceremony is scheduled for 5 pm, with the ruling Mahayuti alliance confirming its support for the NCP’s decision. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that the government would stand by the party and the Pawar family during this transition.

The decision comes even as NCP chief Sharad Pawar said he was not personally consulted about Sunetra Pawar’s elevation. He clarified that the decision appeared to have been taken internally by Ajit Pawar’s faction of the party. Sharad Pawar also confirmed that discussions regarding a possible reunion between the two NCP factions had been underway for several months but were halted following Ajit Pawar’s death.

Throughout the day, senior NCP leaders including Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare arrived at Vidhan Bhavan and the Pawar family residence to hold consultations ahead of the oath ceremony. Party MLAs and workers have publicly backed Sunetra Pawar, citing her political experience, social work in Baramati, and acceptance among the cadre.

Leaders from across party lines paid tribute to Ajit Pawar ahead of the legislature meeting, highlighting the emotional weight of the transition. Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi described the moment as tragic yet historic, expressing hope that Sunetra Pawar would carry forward Ajit Pawar’s vision for Maharashtra.

Sunetra Pawar, a Rajya Sabha MP, has largely maintained a low public profile but has remained active in organisational and social initiatives linked to the NCP. Her assumption of the Deputy CM role is expected to provide continuity in governance while helping the party consolidate its position within the Mahayuti alliance.

With Maharashtra’s political future delicately balanced, Sunetra Pawar’s oath marks a significant turning point — one that blends personal loss with political responsibility and could shape the state’s trajectory in the months ahead.