Sunetra Pawar, wife of late NCP chief Ajit Pawar, takes oath as Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister during a ceremony at Lok Bhavan, in Mumbai, on January 31, 2026. (@SunetraA_Pawar/X via PTI Photo)
Just three days after the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a tragic plane crash, his wife Sunetra Pawar (62) was inducted into the state government and sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday, becoming the first woman to hold the post in Maharashtra.
The oath was administered by Governor Acharya Devvrat at a ceremony held in Mumbai. With her induction into the State Cabinet, Sunetra Pawar formally succeeded her late husband, even as the family continues to mourn his death.
Sunetra Pawar will hold the portfolios of State Excise, Sports and Youth Welfare, and Minority Development. She will not, however, be assigned the finance portfolio previously held by Ajit Pawar
The move was steered by senior leaders of the Ajit Pawar-led faction of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), including Praful Patel and Sunil Tatkare. It is seen as a strategic step to keep the faction firmly aligned with the BJP-led government in Maharashtra and to prevent any possible merger with the Sharad Pawar–led faction of the NCP.
Earlier in the day, NCP legislators met in Mumbai and unanimously elected Sunetra Pawar as leader of the legislative party. The decision was subsequently conveyed to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The BJP extended support to the move, with Fadnavis stating that the matter was internal to the NCP and that the government would respect the decision taken by the party and the Pawar family.
Sunetra Pawar is not currently a member of either Houses of the legislature and will need to be elected through a by-election or nominated to the Legislative Council. Before taking oath as Deputy Chief Minister she has resigned from the Rajya Sabha membership. A bypoll to the Baramati Assembly seat, previously held by Ajit Pawar, is expected within six months.
Notably, no senior member of the Pawar family was present at the oath-taking ceremony, except for Ajit and Sunetra Pawar’s son Jay Pawar and his wife.
Political context
Ajit Pawar, nephew of Sharad Pawar, rebelled against his uncle in 2023 and joined the NDA government in Maharashtra, while Sharad Pawar and his daughter Supriya Sule remained in the opposition. Ajit Pawar’s faction subsequently won the legal battle for the party name and symbol.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar’s faction won only one seat, while the Sharad Pawar faction secured eight. However, the balance shifted in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, where Ajit Pawar’s party won 41 seats compared to 10 by the Sharad Pawar faction.
In recent weeks, both factions had jointly contested municipal and Zilla Parishad polls, fuelling speculation of a possible merger. Those equations changed following Ajit Pawar’s sudden death, with leaders of his faction expressing concern that Sharad Pawar could reclaim control of the party.
According to sources, Patel and Tatkare persuaded Sunetra Pawar to assume the leadership role to retain continuity, and she agreed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on X “ 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”.
Sharad Pawar’s response
Sharad Pawar said he was neither informed nor aware of Sunetra Pawar’s appointment. He noted that Ajit Pawar had earlier favoured a merger of the two factions, but said the future of such a move was now uncertain. He added that Patel and Tatkare were taking decisions for the Ajit Pawar faction.
Published on January 31, 2026
