Ajit Pawar’s wife sworn in as first woman Deputy CM of Maharashtra

KATHMANDU: Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, was sworn in as the new Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra on Saturday.

She officially assumed office at a ceremony in Mumbai, becoming the first woman in the state’s history to hold the post.

The oath was administered by Maharashtra Governor Acharya Devvrat at the Lok Bhavan, in the presence of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.

Supporters of the Pawar family paid tribute to Ajit Pawar, chanting “Ajit Dada Amar Rahe” (“Long live Ajit Pawar”), reflecting the emotional significance of the occasion.

Sunetra Pawar will oversee key government departments, including Excise, Sports and Youth Welfare, and Minorities Development & Aukaf, while the Finance portfolio, previously held by Ajit Pawar, remains with Chief Minister Fadnavis ahead of the upcoming budget session.

Her appointment came after a unanimous decision by lawmakers of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) faction loyal to Ajit Pawar, who elected her as their legislative party leader just days after his tragic death.

Plane Crash that Shook Maharashtra Politics

Ajit Pawar, a senior NCP leader and one of Maharashtra’s longest-serving Deputy Chief Ministers, died in a plane crash on January 28, 2026.

The chartered aircraft went down near Baramati International Airport in Pune district while he was traveling to attend a local event in his home region.

Five people were on board, including Ajit Pawar, two pilots, and two security personnel — all of whom died in the crash. An official investigation is underway to determine the cause.

The tragedy sent shockwaves across Maharashtra, triggering widespread mourning and creating a leadership vacuum within both the state government and the NCP.

Ajit Pawar was accorded a funeral with full state honours, attended by national and regional leaders.

Political and Social Significance

• Historic First: Sunetra Pawar becomes Maharashtra’s first woman Deputy Chief Minister.

• Legacy and Continuity: Her elevation is seen as a way to carry forward Ajit Pawar’s political legacy and maintain stability in the NCP and ruling coalition.

• Strong Support: A seasoned politician and Rajya Sabha MP, Sunetra Pawar enjoys strong backing from party leaders and workers.

• Alliance Stability: Her appointment reinforces the coalition government, which had partnered with Ajit Pawar to form the administration.

Background

In the last state assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, formed a coalition with Ajit Pawar’s NCP faction and the Eknath Shinde faction of the Shiv Sena.

Fadnavis became Chief Minister, while Shinde and Ajit Pawar served as Deputy Chief Ministers, forming a stable government that continues today with Sunetra Pawar taking Ajit Pawar’s place.