Maharashtra – In a historic development, Rajya Sabha member Sunetra Pawar is scheduled to take oath as Maharashtra’s first woman deputy chief minister on Saturday, following the tragic death of her husband Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. The Sunetra Pawar deputy CM appointment marks a significant milestone in the state’s political landscape and comes at a crucial juncture for the Nationalist Congress Party.
Legislative Party Meeting and Election Process
The 40 legislators of the NCP are scheduled to convene at Vidhan Bhavan in Mumbai at 2 pm on Saturday to elect their leader. Sunetra Pawar deputy CM selection is expected to be formalized during this crucial meeting, where she will be elected as the leader of the NCP legislature party. Following her election, the 62-year-old leader will be sworn in at a low-key function at Lok Bhavan at 5 pm on Saturday, according to party functionaries.
Party leaders have expressed unanimous support for the Sunetra Pawar deputy CM decision. Food and Civil Supplies Minister Chhagan Bhujbal confirmed that the party finalized her name as the legislative party leader. During their meeting with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, they confirmed his availability for the swearing-in ceremony scheduled for Saturday.
Political Background and Experience
Sunetra Pawar brings considerable political experience to her new role, despite her unsuccessful campaign in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. She subsequently entered the Rajya Sabha on June 18, 2024, positioning herself within the parliamentary framework. The Sunetra Pawar deputy CM appointment represents a continuation of the Pawar family’s significant influence in Maharashtra politics.
However, certain procedural matters remain unresolved. As Sunetra Pawar is not currently a member of either house of the state legislature, she will need to contest a bypoll or be nominated to the upper house. Additionally, the Baramati seat, previously represented by Ajit Pawar, will see a bypoll within the next six months.
Party Support and Leadership Backing
Senior NCP leaders have rallied behind the Sunetra Pawar deputy CM decision with remarkable unity. Senior Minister Manikrao Kokate stated unequivocally that Sunetra Pawar will lead the legislative party without doubt, and that all members will authorize her to take decisions on their behalf. This consolidated support demonstrates the party’s confidence in her leadership capabilities.
State NCP Chief Sunil Tatkare announced that the meeting of legislators, party parliamentarians, and leaders will include discussions to formally elect the legislative party leader. The party awaited Sunetra Pawar’s presence at the meeting, as she was occupied with rituals throughout the day following her husband’s death.
Chief Minister’s Response
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis affirmed that decisions regarding the deputy chief minister post belong to the NCP. He emphasized that both the government and the BJP stand by the Sunetra Pawar deputy CM decision and the Pawar family during this difficult period. Fadnavis revealed that NCP leaders met him twice to discuss internal party processes and available options.
According to senior NCP leaders, obtaining the chief minister’s approval was a formality, but equally important. Fadnavis asked the party to complete the process promptly and conduct the swearing-in ceremony on Saturday itself.
Portfolio Allocation and Future Responsibilities
Uncertainty remains regarding whether the Sunetra Pawar deputy CM role will include handling the two ministries previously under Ajit Pawar, most importantly the finance portfolio. This aspect will likely be clarified following her official assumption of office and subsequent election or nomination to the state legislature.
NCP Merger Discussions
The Sunetra Pawar deputy CM swearing-in ceremony is expected to occur before the anticipated Pawar family meeting to discuss merging the two NCP factions. The factions had initiated merger talks and even fought some local body polls together previously. According to party insiders, Sunetra Pawar expressed willingness to accept the post, after which senior leaders Praful Patel, Sunil Tatkare, and Chhagan Bhujbal met Fadnavis to convey the party’s decision.
Party leaders indicated that the national president post would also remain within the Pawar family, with Sunetra Pawar likely to assume this role, though this decision will be made later. The merger discussion faces mounting pressure from workers and leaders from both factions, with the Sharad Pawar-led party reportedly more eager for unification.
Tragic Circumstances
The Sunetra Pawar deputy CM appointment follows the devastating plane crash in Baramati on Wednesday morning that killed Ajit Pawar and four others. The 66-year-old leader was traveling in a Learjet 45 aircraft from Mumbai to Baramati to address rallies for upcoming rural body polls when the aircraft crashed after aborting its first landing attempt.
His remains were identified by his wristwatch, and his ashes were immersed at the confluence of Neera and Karha rivers near Baramati by his sons Parth and Jay on Friday, with Sunetra Pawar and other family members present.
The Sunetra Pawar deputy CM transition represents both a personal tragedy and a historic political moment for Maharashtra, as the state welcomes its first woman to this crucial constitutional position.
