Sunetra Pawar, who is becoming the first woman to be sworn in as Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra today, entered the historical annals of the state's leadership history as the first woman to hold the post. Sunetra sets a high record in the vacuum left behind by the untimely death of her husband, Ajit Pawar, as the elevation represents a watershed moment for the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the state’s political landscape.
Although her previous status as Baramati's champion or "Vahini" is legendary, the passage here from a social entrepreneur to the second-highest executive position in the state is a story of resilience and strategic leadership.
Biography: Early Life and Family Origin
She was born Sunetra Patil on 18 October 1963, in Dharashiv (formerly Osmanabad), from a family highly politicised.
- Political lineage: Her father, Bajirao Patil, was a respected local leader, and her brother, Padamsinh Patil, served as a powerful state minister and Lok Sabha MP.
- Marriage: She married Ajit Pawar, the nephew of NCP founder Sharad Pawar, in 1985, cementing a union between two of the most powerful political families in Maharashtra.
- The children: She has two sons, Parth Pawar, active in politics, and Jay Pawar, who is in charge of the family’s business interests.
Education: A Foundation in Commerce
Sunetra Pawar obtained her higher education in the Marathwada region and the region's colleges. She earned a Bachelor of Commerce from SB Arts and Commerce College in Aurangabad (now Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar) where she graduated in 1983. Her academic expertise in commerce has helped her to be successful in managing large industrial and cooperative scale commercial enterprises.
Career: From Social Activism to National Politics
The Social Entrepreneur & Environmentalist
Long before entering the electoral contest, Sunetra forged an independent identity as a “Green Warrior.”
- Environmental Forum of India (EFOI): Established in 2010, this activist organization is an original force for what I have called the “eco-village” paradigm. She turned Katewadi into a prototype village with solar energy, biogas plants and zero waste management.
- Academic Leadership: As a trustee of Vidya Pratishthan, an academic institution in Baramati and home to 25,000 plus students. She has been a member of the Senate of Savitribai Phule Pune University since 2017, too.
- Women's empowerment: She was chairperson of the Baramati Hi-Tech Textile Park where she created thousands of jobs for rural women.
Political Ascent
Sunetra’s official foray into active politics was a trial by fire:
- Lok Sabha Polls 2024: She challenged from the high-profile Baramati seat against her sister-in-law, Supriya Sule. Although she lost the battle, this campaign made her a strong public figure.
- Rajya Sabha In 2024 June (Unopposed): She was elected in June 2024 without opposition to the Rajya Sabha where she remained firmly on the Agricultural and Environmental agenda.
Deputy Chief Minister (2026)
After Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on January 28, 2026, the NCP Legislature Party unanimously promoted her as its new leader. Today at 5:00 PM in Raj Bhavan she was sworn in.
What’s Next for Sunetra Pawar?
As the first woman Deputy CM the only other challenge she faces in her immediate role is managing the Excise and Sports portfolios and a possible merger between various NCP factions. To stay on the throne, she is expected to contest the new Baramati Assembly by-poll, a seat occupied by her late husband for seven cycles.
