Sunetra Pawar set to become Maharashtra’s first woman Dy CM

Days after the tragic death of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near his hometown Baramati, the party has begun the process of appointing his wife, Sunetra Pawar, as his successor. If the plan moves forward as expected, Maharashtra will get its first woman deputy chief minister, possibly over the weekend.According to information, the swearing-in ceremony has been tentatively scheduled for 5 pm, though official confirmation from the Maharashtra government and Raj Bhavan is still awaited. The move comes amid a period of mourning and political transition within the NCP, which is a key constituent of the ruling Maha Yuti alliance.
Senior NCP leaders, including working president Praful Patel, state unit chief Sunil Tatkare, veteran leader Chhagan Bhujbal, and MLA Dhananjay Munde, held a series of meetings in Mumbai with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss the leadership transition. Party leaders said the immediate priority was to fill the vacant posts of NCP legislature party leader and deputy chief minister, both of which were held by Ajit Pawar at the time of his death.“Right now, the focus is on ensuring continuity in governance by filling the vacant positions. Organisational appointments are not the priority at this moment,” Patel said, adding that Ajit Pawar was not only the NCP’s tallest leader but also a crucial functionary of the ruling alliance. “We are in the process of finalising the leadership transition,” he said.
On the possibility of Sunetra Pawar taking over as the legislature party leader and deputy chief minister, Patel said the sentiments of party workers and the public were aligned, but consultations with the Pawar family were essential. “We have to speak to the family and seek their consent first,” he said.State minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that the NCP legislature party meeting would be convened shortly to elect a new leader. “Ajit Dada’s passing is an irreparable loss, but the work of governance must continue. The MLAs and MLCs will elect their leader, who will then become the deputy chief minister,” he said. Bhujbal added that many party members wanted “Sunetra Tai” to take on the role, though the final decision would rest with the legislators.
Meanwhile, the Pawar family is also holding internal deliberations. In Baramati, the ashes of Ajit Pawar were immersed at the confluence of the Karha and Neera rivers in the presence of Sunetra Pawar and close family members.In a related development, NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar was seen inspecting works along the Neera River in Baramati, interacting with locals and officials. Residents raised concerns about water quality, prompting Pawar to seek investigations.
The political developments have also revived discussions around a possible merger of the NCP and the Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP). While leaders from both sides have publicly supported unity, party insiders said the process would take time due to legal and technical issues related to party symbols and pending cases. The role of MP Supriya Sule in a unified party structure also needs to be defined.Kiran Gujar, a close associate of the Pawar family, said Ajit Pawar had expressed a strong desire for unity within the party. “It was Dada’s last wish that both factions of the NCP should come together. He believed everyone should remain united,” Gujar said.