The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in the wake of Ajit Pawar's untimely death has named Sunetra Pawar as the next Deputy Chief Minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra in what is a fast and monumental transfer of power. According to multiple news outlets, the 62-year-old Rajya Sabha MP is likely to take the oath of office later today, January 31, 2026.
A Historic Milestone
The ruling is a historic point in the annals of policy-making in Maharashtra, it makes Sunetra Pawar the first woman to hold the post of Deputy Chief Minister since its inception in 1978. The leadership transition occurs after her husband Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash last Wednesday near Baramati.
The Road to the Oath
All NCP MLAs and MLCs are scheduled for a meeting at Vidhan Bhavan at 2:00 PM. Election of Leader: Sunetra Pawar is expected to be formally elected as the Leader of the NCP Legislature Party. The Swearing-In: It is expected that the oath-taking ceremony will take place at 5:00 PM at Raj Bhavan; Governor R.P. Singh (or the incumbent) officiating.
Cabinet and Portfolios
Following the ceremony would be the official distribution of the portfolios, but insiders have speculated that Sunetra Pawar will hold onto the Excise and Sports ministries that had previously been her husband’s. But, the Finance portfolio may also stay with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for a while, with the upcoming state budget session in March.
“No other name is a question. We unanimously say that Sunetra Pawar is going to have to put aside her grieving and take on the role of leading us," said senior NCP leader Chhagan Bhujbal.
Political Implications
The elevation of Sunetra Pawar is viewed by the NCP as a deliberate move to ensure stability within the Mahayuti alliance (the BJP, Shiv Sena and the NCP) and to capitalize on a “sympathy wave” in the run-up to the Pune Zilla Parishad elections set for February 7. She will have six months as a sitting Rajya Sabha MP to secure a seat in the Maharashtra State Legislature. It is widely believed that she will contest the by-poll for the Baramati Assembly seat, which was vacant after her husband's death.
