Mumbai, Maharashtra (January 31, 2026): Sunetra Pawar, wife of late Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, was sworn in as Maharashtra’s deputy chief minister on Saturday, becoming the first woman to hold the post in the state. The oath was administered at Lok Bhavan in Mumbai.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, Governor Acharya Devvrat and several senior leaders were present at the ceremony, including NCP state president Sunil Tatkare, MP Praful Patel and leader Chhagan Bhujbal.
Earlier in the day, she was unanimously elected as the Nationalist Congress Party’s legislative leader.
Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash near Baramati on January 28 while the aircraft was descending. Following his death, a section of NCP leaders had demanded that Sunetra Pawar be given the position held by her late husband in the Devendra Fadnavis-led cabinet.
As Sunetra Pawar took the oath, NCP leaders raised slogans of “Ajit Dada amar rahe. Before heading to Lok Bhavan, Pawar paid tribute at Ajit Pawar’s portrait.
Who is Sunetra Pawar?
Born on October 18, 1963, Sunetra Pawar belongs to the influential Pawar political family. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad. In 2010, she founded the Environmental Forum of India, a non-government organisation focused on environmental awareness.
Until the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Sunetra Pawar largely stayed away from active public politics. She made her electoral debut from Baramati as the NCP candidate but lost to her sister-in-law and sitting MP Supriya Sule of the NCP (SP). She was later elected to the Rajya Sabha.
Sunetra Pawar and Ajit Pawar have two sons, Jay Pawar and Parth Pawar, who are involved in business and politics.