Sunetra Pawar Sworn In as Maharashtra's First Woman Deputy Chief Minister Today

Sunetra Pawar was formally sworn in as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Saturday at 5 pm, marking a historic moment as she becomes the first woman to hold the post in the state. The ceremony took place at the Lok Bhavan in Mumbai, with ministers, legislators, and senior party leaders in attendance. Supporters chanted “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” in tribute to her late husband, Ajit Pawar, the former Deputy Chief Minister and senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, who tragically died in a plane crash on Wednesday.

Sunetra Pawar, affectionately known as ‘Vahini’ within political circles, was unanimously elected as the leader of the NCP legislature party earlier in the day. Her appointment is seen as both a continuation of Ajit Pawar’s political legacy and a significant milestone for women’s representation in Maharashtra politics. The portfolios previously held by Ajit Pawar, excluding Finance and Planning, have been officially reassigned to her.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by several prominent NCP leaders, including Dilip Walse Patil and Chhagan Bhujbal, who formally proposed and seconded her election as the legislature party leader. Sunetra Pawar paid floral tributes to her late husband’s portrait in Vidhan Bhavan before taking the oath, a gesture that drew emotional reactions from party members and officials present at the event.

Also Read: Sunetra Pawar to Become Maharashtra's First Woman Deputy Chief Minister Today

Sunetra Pawar has kept a relatively low political profile until recent years. She contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Baramati but lost to her sister-in-law and NCP MP, Supriya Sule. Subsequently, she was elected to the Rajya Sabha, solidifying her political credentials within the party. Her ascent to the Deputy Chief Minister role signals a strategic consolidation of leadership within the NCP following Ajit Pawar’s untimely death.

Political analysts note that Sunetra Pawar’s appointment could stabilize the NCP at a time of grief while also empowering women in Maharashtra’s political landscape. Her first public acts as Deputy Chief Minister are expected to focus on continuing her late husband’s initiatives and strengthening the party’s presence across the state.

Also Read: Sunetra Pawar to Become Maharashtra's First Woman Deputy Chief Minister Today