In a swift and historic political transition, Rajya Sabha MP Sunetra Pawar, wife of the late NCP leader Ajit Pawar, will be sworn in today as the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, today at 5 pm. The event is to take place at Lok Bhavan (Raj Bhavan) in Mumbai.
Filling the Void: Leadership After Ajit Pawar
The elevation came after the tragic death of Ajit Pawar in a plane crash near Baramati on Wednesday, January 28. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) soon moved quickly to fill the leadership vacuum, where senior leaders Chhagan Bhujbal, Praful Patel, and Sunil Tatkare reached consensus on the name of Sunetra Pawar.
- Legislature Party Meeting: A formal meeting of the 40 NCP MLAs is scheduled for 2:00 PM today at Vidhan Bhavan, at which point Sunetra Pawar will be officially elected as the NCP Legislature Party leader.
- The "First Woman" Milestone: At 62, Sunetra Pawar will be the first woman Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, making her the first woman to hold the post in the state.
- Portfolios: She is expected to maintain the Excise and Sports ministries, while the Finance portfolio previously held by her husband might remain with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis temporarily until after the March budget session.
A Transition Amid Grief
Both support and criticism have met the decision. Rupali Patil Thombare, an NCP spokesperson, said Sunetra chose to "forget her pain and adopt Ajit Dada's dreams," while opposition leaders including Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena UBT) criticized the appointment as being done in haste, noting that the family is still in mourning. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar stated to the media in Baramati that he was not consulted on the appointment, describing it as an "internal party matter" of the Shinde-Fadnavis-Ajit Pawar alliance (Mahayuti).
What Happens to Her Rajya Sabha Seat?
Sunetra Pawar is currently a Rajya Sabha MP and not a member of the Maharashtra Assembly or Council, so within six months she will have to be elected to the State Legislature. It is widely believed she will contest the bypoll for the Baramati Assembly seat, which fell vacant after her husband's death.
